Mary Kraft

Mary Kraft, 98, passed away peacefully at home on September 28, 2024, with her daughters, granddaughter, and grand-dog at her side. Born on March 11, 1926, in Oakman, GA, to Henry and Eva Padgett, she was the youngest of five children, including a brother (James) who died before her birth. Growing up, her best friends and most frequent playmates were her cousins. In 1943, she graduated from Fairmount High. She attended West Georgia College where her favorite activity was singing in the A Cappella Choir. After two years of college, she moved to Atlanta, taking a job as a secretary at the Plaza Movie Theater where she continued to work after her marriage to Steve Kraft, on August 6, 1949. Upon the birth of her first child, Elizabeth, in 1954, she devoted herself to home and child-rearing. Susan followed a year and a half later. Both remember a childhood of attentive care-filled with their mother's singing around the house (Hit Parade songs, Broadway tunes), and their parents' harmonizing (hymns, especially) on car rides to Gordon and Toombs counties for grandparent visits. Mary worked as a substitute teacher for Dekalb County while her children were in school. After they graduated, she was a full-time paraprofessional reading tutor at Wadsworth Elementary. She made a memorable impression on "story day" in her home-made Cat-in-the-Hat costume. Following the death of her husband in 1980, Mary continued to work and to sing in the church choir (Ousley Methodist) and in the Harmonizers, a community singing group. After her retirement, in 1990, she enjoyed traveling with her sisters, her daughters, and her friends-Hawaii, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert, Myrtle Beach, and Niagara Falls were some of her favorite destinations. Mary had a gift for reveling in ordinary pleasures. A trip with her to a library was a regular adventure for the children in her life. Morning coffee was an "event" every day. Whether sharing a can of green beans with her granddaughter after school, searching the catalogs for cute gifts for her four great-grand-daughters, or making a "dry-run" with one of her daughters on the day before an important appointment, she enjoyed every minute spent with her loved ones. And, they with her. She leaves behind a family of readers, music lovers, and coffee connoisseurs. Mary is survived by daughters Elizabeth Kraft and Susan Kraft; grand-daughter Nicole Carver (Jerry); great-grand-daughters Cheyenne, Chennelle, Chenneen, and Chellee Carver; and cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Wilson (Steve) Kraft, her parents Henry and Eva Padgett, her sisters, Janelle Knight and Josephine Padgett, and her brothers, James Padgett and Plato Padgett.

A graveside service will be held on October 19 at 11 a.m. at Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Decatur. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Mary's name to Oak Grove United Methodist Church,1722 Oak Grove Road, Decatur, GA, or to the charity of your choice.