Tasha L. McCraw
Heaven gained its most beautiful angel on Friday, November 18, 2016 when Tasha McCraw made what I'm sure was a grand appearance at the pearly gates and whipped out her personal invitation.
My daughter Tasha's life began July 4th, 1983 in Hattiesburg, MS with a battle cry that she spent the next 33 years perfecting. I nicknamed her "Little Miss New York" early in life due to her love of fashion, makeup and later the never ending selfies she shared on social media.
Tasha was an accomplished author of poetry books and took great pride in her work being included in publications of the Academy of American Poets. Her first book entitled "Poetic Transcendence" detailing her first 20 years of life experiences sold out quickly and she was working on her next book which will be published posthumously.
Tasha joined the US Army as a 17-year-old with specialized training as a Combat Medic, a career dream of hers that unfortunately was cut short due to an injury. She continued her career as a top sales person for companies specializing in hurricane impact doors and windows in the South Florida region.
Tasha will always be remembered for her compassion for the downtrodden, whether human or animal. I have never been able to keep a full set of good towels or bowls because there was always a stray dog or cat that she thought needed them more than we did. Sometimes she rescued critters that weren't even lost or abandoned -- and then made the owners prove they were fit to care for them before she would turn them back over. Groceries would disappear from our pantry and reappear as a care package for a homeless person. The phrase I heard most often from her was, "Why doesn't anyone care?" This was my kid.
Tasha was preceded in death by her father, Ray McCraw, her grandparents John H. Carruth, Sr., Karl Easton, Jr., Lester and Nell McCraw, cousins Caleb Hazel, Presley Pierce, Crystal Oliver, Jamie Shoemaker, Rilla McCraw, uncle James (Billy) Carruth and too many close friends.
She is survived by her mother (me), Johnnie Rose Easton and her dad Bruce Holleman Easton, sisters Teresa Werkheiser and Pamela Loven, brother Kevin McCraw, grandmothers Rosamond Carruth and Sara Jo Easton, aunts and uncles Deborah (Gary) Hazel, Pamelia (Terry) Sanders, Sherree (Frank) Carter, Thomas (Wanda) Carruth, John Carruth, Jr., Rita (Thomas) Arnold, Rann (Debra) McCraw, Kara Jo (Skip) Stevens and Mark (Judy) Easton and their families.
Pall bearers will be Gary Hazel, Chad Sanders, John Carruth, Jr., Thomas Carruth and her mom and dad, Johnnie Rose and Bruce Easton.
Visitation will be Friday November 25, at 5:00pm at Forrest Funeral Home located at 1258 Richburg Road, Hattiesburg MS. Services will be held at the funeral home chapel on Saturday, November 26 with visitation at 9:00am and service at 11:00am. Burial will follow at Military Baptist Church Cemetery in Sumrall, MS.
Tasha loved beautiful flowers and would appreciate their beauty surrounding her but if friends would rather donate to one of her favorite causes, please consider donating to any no-kill animal shelter or a donation in her name to the Gratitude House Treatment Center (www.gratitudehouse.org) in West Palm Beach, Florida.