Iris Pentecost (Penny) Craig

Iris (Penny) Pentecost Craig, a long-time resident of Pulaski/Dublin, passed away on Monday, December 25, 2023 at Majestic Care of Sheridan in Sheridan, IN, living most recently in Noblesville, IN. Penny was the eighth child born to the Rev. James Thomas and Pearl Pentecost on February 12, 1941 in Cleveland, TN. The family moved to Virginia in the late 1940s, settling in Pulaski where she attended Jefferson Elementary School and Pulaski High School.

After high school, Penny served in the U.S. Air Force as an Airman 3rd class (where she got her nickname) and was proud to have served her country. She returned to Pulaski in the early 1960s and was a machine operator at Jefferson Mills where she met her late husband, R. G. Craig, U.S. Army SP4. She also worked at Sweet Ore, Lee Jeans, Roses, and Russell Apparel while living in the New River Valley. She worked as a photofinisher at McJon in Ft. Wayne, IN. While in Tennessee, she was the receptionist at Tomlinson College and church secretary at Keith Street Ministries, both in Cleveland, TN.

Penny was a master gardener with a true green thumb. If she planted it, it grew. She loved cooking, baking and candy-making, a gift she shared by catering weddings and other events and owned “Penny’s Sweet Shop” in Dublin where she taught classes to her patrons. She was also an avid crafter and master seamstress in high demand, owning her own decorating business, “Silks, Satins, and Sew-On” in Cleveland, TN. She was a woman of strong faith. She led congregational singing, sang in choirs, spoke to congregations, taught Sunday School, directed youth ministries, and sang in a trio with sisters Affie and Anna in their youth. She used her candy-making skills and organized large campaigns to raise thousands of dollars for various churches in Virginia, Tennessee, and Indiana.

Penny was preceded in death by her husband Roy Garnett (RG) Craig; parents, James Thomas and Pearl Pentecost; brothers David, James, Paul, and Charles Pentecost; and sisters Ruth Shelton, Anna Keith, Dorthy (Dee Dee) Pownall, and Belva Green. She is survived by her son, Roy Garnett Craig, Jr., his wife, Kelli, and grandson, Joshua of Fishers, IN; sister, Affie Stump and brother, A. J. Pentecost both of Salem, VA along with many beloved nieces, nephews, and dear friends made throughout various chapters of her life in Virginia, Tennessee, Indiana and Alaska.

A memorial service will be held at Bower Funeral Chapel in Pulaski, VA at 2 pm Saturday, December 30, 2023 with visitation at 1 pm. Dr. Ron D. Boyd, President of the Roanoke Local Office on Aging and Rev. JD Wall, West Virginia State Youth and Discipleship Director for the Church of God will be officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a local Autism organization or Alzheimer’s/Dementia charity.

To sign Penny’s online guestbook, visit wwwbowerfuneralhome.com – Bower Funeral Homes, Pulaski is handling the arrangements for the family.