Arven Levoid Croy

Published 11:38 pm Friday, March 16, 2007

Arven Levoid Croy

The Rev. Dr. Arven Levoid Croy, 81, of 465 Sunset Blvd., in Newton, died Thursday, March 15, 2007, at Palmyra Medical Center in Albany.

Services are Sunday at 2 p.m. at Radium Springs Baptist Church in Albany with burial to follow at 4:30 p.m. in the Oakridge Cemetery in Tifton. The Rev. Carl Dunn will officiate.

Born June 28, 1925, in Tift County to Susie Neal Croy and Charlie Milton Croy, Dr. Croy resided in Tifton until 1957. Dr. Croy served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, after which he was employed with the U.S. Postal Service for a period of 13 years. On April 6, 1955, Dr. Croy was licensed to the gospel ministry and was ordained in June, 1956. He received his formal education from Norman College in Norman Park and Mercer University in Macon. He was awarded his doctor of divinity from Southern Baptist School for Biblical Studies in Jacksonville, Fla.

Dr. Croy was an active and full-time pastor for over 50 years, serving churches in North Florida, North Georgia and South Georgia, including churches in Albany and Newton. During his ministry, Dr. Croy served in various capacities on the associational and state convention levels, including serving on the Georgia Baptist Convention Executive Committee and Georgia Baptist Convention Royal Ambassador Advisory Committee.

He served several years as a Royal Ambassador State Camp counselor and led several regional training sessions for Baptist Brotherhood and Royal Ambassadors. He retired from the ministry after his health began to decline.

Dr. Croy also served on the Baker County Mental Health and Inter-Agency Councils and the Baker County Historical Society. He was instrumental in canvassing the county cemeteries for the Baker County Historical Society’s “History of Baker County Book.”

Dr. Croy is survived by three daughters, Yvonne Gilbert and her husband Bill of Sugar Valley, Celeice Burch and her husband Jarrell of Baker County and Elaine Croy of Newton; three grandchildren, Paige Galt and her husband Jason of Newnan, Matthew Burch and Jeremy Burch of Baker County; several nieces and nephews also survive.

Dr. Croy was preceded in death by his wife, Julia Virginia Matthews Croy, to whom he was lovingly dedicated for over 58 years. He was also preceded in death by his parents, brothers and sisters.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home today from 5 to 7 p.m.

You may sign the guest book and share your own special thoughts and memories with the family of Dr. Croy by visiting Kimbrell-Stern’s Web site at www.kimbrell-stern.com.

Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors of Albany is in charge of arrangements.