Brandon
Funeral Home
Visitation
Friday, June 3, 2022 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at First Baptist Fannin
Service
Friday, Jun 3, 12 p.m. at First Baptist Fannin.
Interment will follow at Parkway Memorial Cemetery,
Ridgeland.
Obituary
Honoring a Fallen Hero, Who Served Within the Mississippi National Guard
In recognition of our proud American tradition of honorable service which our military men and women have given to their country and our State, we honor a Fallen Hero. Our nation, our state, and the National Guard Association of MS (NGAMS) regard the memorializing of its retired military deceased as an honorable and sacred obligation.
Another great Soldier and Fallen Hero has been released from duty, passed from our ranks on May 31, 2022, and moved on to his heavenly home. COL(Ret)Harold A. Crain, age 95, a retired member of the MS Army National Guard who had served and worked full-time as the battalion Administrative Officer within the 1st Battalion, 155th Infantry Regiment, 155th Separated Armored Brigade has departed and gone to a better place with our good Lord. COL Crain also served within the USAR.
It takes a special person to serve within the military for their country, giving up their family time, comfort, and safety for their country, ultimately for all Americans to enjoy their freedoms, safety, and way of life. We now applaud you for your service to our country. A special message from General Douglas McArthur remains applicable today for our servicemen that have passed: “Old Soldiers never die; they just fade away”.
Rest in Peace Soldier. We applaud your patriotism and brave efforts in serving our country and your family for their support of your service. We thank you for your service. Without your efforts and your families’ support, this country would not stand so boldly, shine so bright and live so free.
You now have earned a rest, so go fly with the Angels, go rest high on that mountain; your work on earth is done. Go to heaven a-shoutin’ Love for the Father and the Son.
Obituary, visitation, and service details:
Brandon – Colonel Harold A. Crain, 95, passed away at his home on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 surrounded by his loving family.
Col. Crain was born on September 20, 1926 in Tylertown, Mississippi. He joined the Army in 1944 and served 42 years, during which he fought in WWII and the Korean War, and served during the Vietnam War. He was a proudly decorated Veteran, having received a Purple Heart, Bronze Star
with V Device, Army Commendation Medal, United Nations Award, Mississippi Magnolia Medal and Valor Award, along with many others. He also served on a 15-person committee out of the U.S. Pentagon, where he played an integral part in developing a plan to better protect combat soldiers and reduce the number of casualties. After his military retirement, Col. Crain worked as the Director of the Mississippi Emergency
Management Agency (MEMA), where he implemented the state’s first disaster assistance plan in
the 1970s. He then went on to work for the MS Secretary of State and Attorney General, and was
eventually elected as the Rankin County Election Commissioner, where he served several terms
before serving as Rankin County’s Veterans Affairs Officer. Additionally, he also served as a
Sunday School Teacher and Deacon at his church. He was a member of First Baptist Fannin Church. Home News Sports Magnolia Opinion Obituaries.
As proud as he was of his life’s many achievements, his absolute greatest pride and joy was his family. His life’s goal was to leave a legacy, and that, he did!
https://www.clarionledger.com/obituaries/jcl138791 1/2
6/1/22, 1:34 PM Harold A. Crain Obituary – Clarion Ledger
He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Chris Crain; eldest son, Gary (Angela) of Canton;
youngest son, David (Stacy) of Brandon; grandchildren, Phillip Crain (Amberly), Shannon Crain Coleman, Regan Crain Samson (Jordan), and Rebekah Crain Ledbetter (McGee); and five greatgrandchildren,
Brayden, Jase, and Myles Crain (Phillip), and Bentley and Bowen Coleman
(Shannon).
Col. Crain is preceded in death by his parents, Mr. & Mrs. D. E. Crain of Tylertown; brothers,
Edgar Crain of Tylertown and Alvin Crain of Gulfport; and son, Jeffrey Crain of Brandon.
Visitation will be held Friday, June 3, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at First Baptist Fannin
with funeral services at 12:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Parkway Memorial Cemetery,
Ridgeland.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Baptist Fannin.