Lela Mae Whitley Craft of Glenn, Heard County, Georgia passed away on April 8, 2026

To honor her final wishes, there will not be a memorial held.

Lela was born October 21, 1927, and raised in Glenn, Georgia. She was a member of the Glenn Missionary Baptist Church and the oldest member at the time of her death. She enjoyed watching her flowers bloom, watching the birds from the front porch of her family farm and she especially loved genealogy.

On September 9, 2000, she started the DAR James Stewart Chapter serving as the organizing regent. The chapter is based in Franklin, Georgia, and named in honor of her Grandfather James Stewart where she served as President from 2009-2012. March of 2018, the James Stewart Chapter presented her with the “Women in American History Award”. Lela was directly involved with the organization of many families lineage and held numerous positions. Not only in the James Stewart Chapter NSDAR, but also in the Heard County Historical Society, Heard County Chapter 2587 United Daughters of the Confederacy, the William Wofford Chapter Colonial Dames XVII Century and the National Society Magna Charta Dames and Barons.

Lela was a driving force in the continuing development of the Heard County Historical Center and Museum. She began working at the museum in 1992. During her 12 years at the museum, the library and museum artifacts increased greatly. Her vast knowledge of Heard County and the families who settled here along with her willingness to help sparked the genealogy bug in others. She was always willing to help anyone with their research.

Lela is preceded in death by her parents: James (Jim) Whitley and Betty Estella Arnett, Sister Lucy Frances Whitley, Brother William (Bill) Whitley and Son Harold Anthony (Tony) Craft.

Survivors include:

Son Michael (Marcia) Craft, Talking Rock, GA. Daughter Patti Craft (Steven Gaynor, Dallas, GA. Son Jack (Deedra) Craft, Kennesaw, GA.

Daughter-in-law: Beverly Craft, Marietta, GA.

Grand Children: Stephanie Craft Sheppard (Rob), Dallas, GA. Amy Craft, Dallas, GA Harold Jason (Cori) Craft, Dallas, GA. Jason Steven (Ivey) Craft, Talking Rock, GA.

Great Grandchildren: Olivia Sheppard, Dallas, GA. Wyatt Craft and Scout Craft, Talking Rock, GA.

In lieu of flowers her wishes were that you give a memorial donation in her memory to:

ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105

“Memorialize the life of a loved one by supporting our lifesaving mission of finding cures for cancer and other life-threatening diseases.”

The caring staff of Darby Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Ms. Lela Mae Whitley Craft.