William Edward Crews

William Edward Crews
Mayor of Stoneville, North Carolina
Personal details
Born(1932-05-19)May 19, 1932
DiedApril 24, 2024(2024-04-24) (aged 91)
Resting placeStoneville Cemetery
PartyDemocratic Party
SpouseNellie Gray Taylor
Children2

William "Bill" Edward Crews (May 19, 1932 – April 24, 2024) was an American politician. He served as mayor of Stoneville, North Carolina for twenty-two years.

Early life

Crews was born in Pitt County, North Carolina on May 19, 1932, to Marvin Staples "Jack" Crews and Clarreen Neville Crews.[1] He was one of fifteen children and grew up on a dairy farm before the family settled in Shiloh, Rockingham County, North Carolina.[1]

Career

Crews, a Democrat, ran for mayor of Stoneville, North Carolina in 1959.[2][3] He was advised on his campaign by Rockingham County Commissioner J. J. Webster, and later proposed that the North Carolina Department of Transportation name North Carolina Highway 135 after Webster.[2] Crews served as mayor for twenty-two consecutive years.[4]

He was a trustee of the Holland Estate, which bequeathed $1.2 million to the town of Stoneville.[5]

Personal life and death

Crews was a parishioner at First Baptist Church of Mayodan, North Carolina, where he served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, choir member, and youth leader.[1]

Crews was married to Nellie Gray Taylor, with whom he had two children.[1]

He died on April 24, 2024. His funeral was held at First Baptist Church of Mayodan on April 30, 2024, followed by an interment in Stoneville Cemetery.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "William "Bill" Edward Crews May 19, 1932 - April 24, 2024". Boone and Cooke. Eden, North Carolina. April 24, 2024. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Leonard, Erin. "Highway may bear name of Shiloh man". News & Record. Greensboro, North Carolina.
  3. ^ "Stoneville Manager Voted Out". The News & Record. Greensboro, North Carolina. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  4. ^ "Stoneville Looks Toward New Era". The News & Record. Greensboro, North Carolina. January 26, 2015.
  5. ^ "Millionaire's Bequest Leaves Town In Lurch..." The News & Record. Greensboro, North Carolina. January 23, 2015. Retrieved October 30, 2025.