Ramona Mitchell Cranford

Ramona Mitchell Cranford passed away August 4, 2020 at Piedmont Crossing Retirement Community.  She was a lifelong resident of Thomasville, the daughter of Raymond I. Boaz of Patrick County, VA and Ruby Lee Everhart of Thomasville.  On November 22, 1951 she married Joe F. Mitchell of Denton, and they became proud parents of four children.  Her sons John Raymond Mitchell and James Franklin Mitchell preceded her in death. Her children Paul Rush Mitchell and Martha Mitchell Adams remained devoted to her through her life.

Ramona was born into First Baptist Church of Thomasville and a faithful member, raising her family there.   During her second marriage to Keith O. Cranford of Denton and Greensboro, they moved their church memberships to First Presbyterian Church of Thomasville, where she served as an Elder.    The mother of three Eagle Scouts and the grandmother of three more, Ramona was also actively involved with Boy Scout Troop 121 of Memorial United Methodist Church in Thomasville. 

She lived a long, full 90 years and delighted in many friendships.  However, she was from first to last the mother of her family and cherished them all. 

Ramona was deeply involved with numerous interests and pursuits including dedicated service to church, community, local schools and their sports teams. She co- founded The Thomasville Beautification Committee and was a member of the Hospice of Davidson County board many years.  Also, she was an early supporter of the Aids Task Force of Winston Salem, which served five western NC counties in the 1980s and 90s.

An avid follower of politics, Ramona was the first woman elected to the Thomasville City Council in 1985 and remained interested in local government until her death. 

She stayed close to her childhood “DDT” girlfriends her entire life, helped organize and enjoyed her Thomasville High School 1948 class reunions until recently. 

Ramona was a proud THS Bulldog, cheering on baseball and football teams at games into her 80s.  She attended Woman’s College, now UNC Greensboro, where she discovered bridge, then played with her Thomasville bridge club for 60+ years. As a staunch supporter of the NC State University Wolfpack, she loved attending games and wore her Wolfpack jewelry and clothing often.

Born with a head for figures, Ramona began her working career at a local bank, then was Office Manager of Maurice Hosiery Mills (later Hosiery Associates) for many years. She found her true calling as Office and Business Manager for Thomasville Medical Associates, helping build the practice over decades.  In later years she was bookkeeper and Office Manager for her son Paul Mitchell’s law office in Thomasville.

Ramona reveled in hosting parties and dinners as well as time spent with family and friends at the lake and beach.  Her warm hospitality made sure her children and their friends gathered at her home growing up and as adults. She played piano, relished travel, was stylish, an excellent seamstress and teased everyone.  Her father nicknamed her Monkey, which closest friends and family still call her.

Surviving family includes son Paul and wife Vicki Blackley Mitchell of Denton; daughter Martha and husband Andrew Wilson (Bill) Adams of Burlington; grandchildren Kacie Leigh Mitchell and Joseph Cole Mitchell of Huntsville, Texas (John Raymond); Raleigh Rutherford Haynes Adams and Elizabeth Boaz Love Adams of Raleigh (Martha); Joe F. Mitchell of Asheville, John Blackley Mitchell and wife Meredith Rymer Mitchell of Hendersonville and William (Will) Stephen Mitchell of Durango, Colorado (Paul); great-granddaughters Ava Mitchell and Cate Mitchell (John and Meredith Mitchell) and step son Gregory Keith Cranford of New York.

The family is grateful to all who cared for Ramona, particularly her encouraging friends in the Rehab, Skilled Nursing household and staff at Piedmont Crossing plus her dedicated aide Lisa.

A family graveside service will be held on Saturday, August 15th at Lick Creek Baptist Church with a celebration of life on a later date.  JC Green & Sons is handling arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to First Presbyterian Church, 21 Randolph St., Thomasville or Hospice of Davidson County, 200 Hospice Way, Lexington, NC 27292.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.