James A. Cranford, Jr., MD, passed away on January 7, 2021. Born on December 9, 1927, in Jacksonville, FL, he was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. James A. Cranford, Sr.

In his early years, the family moved to Atlantic Beach where Jimmie grew up, making many lifelong friends. He enjoyed the boy scouts and all thing beach life. He often spoke of the beach during World War II: blackouts, lookout stations on the ocean and coffee on the stove for volunteer night time spotters. Seeing a torpedoed freighter burn just off the coast of Jacksonville.

He graduated from Fletcher High School and attended Washington and Lee University and then Duke Medical School.

On April 16, 1952, he married Stuart McTeer Bolling. After a short stint in Jacksonville they moved to Charlottesville, VA, where he continued his medical training at the University of Virginia. They then returned to Jacksonville, where Dr. Cranford served in the Navy before going into private practice in Radiology.

He was a lifelong member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, where he was on the Vestry and served as Senior Warden.

Jimmie had a lifelong interest in birdwatching, many vacation spots being tied to that activity. He played golf and tennis, and also enjoyed history, painting, and rose gardening (to the chagrin of his children as the backyard playground eventually became one huge rose garden), and the study of mushrooms. Upon retirement, he and his wife spent their summers in Cashiers, North Carolina, entertaining grandchildren and visiting with friends, many of whom were fellow Jacksonvillians. He became an ardent fly fisherman exploring the many trout streams in the area with other fishermen.

Dr. Cranford was predeceased by his wife Stuart, his sister Mary Milam, and his grandchild Stuart Michael Figliola. He is survived by his five children: Jimmy, Chip (Cindy), Bill (Ann), Stuart Stokes (Marvin), and Mary Elizabeth Figliola, adored grandchildren: sisters, Ashleigh and Ivy Cranford, brother and sister, Margaret Hall (Barry) and Bolling Cranford, brothers, the Reverend William and James Stokes, and brothers Joey and Jimmy Figliola, and two great-grandchildren, Ford and Ann Fleming McDowell.

Due to the coronavirus, a private family service was held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on January 15, 2021, followed by a graveside service at Evergreen Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 4129 Oxford Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32210.