Community leader Minnie Craig of Princeton dies at 83

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Minnie Craig (r) with her husband, Eric Craig.

Minnie Louise Craig, a community leader in the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood and greater Princeton community, passed away peacefully on Sept. 3 at the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center surrounded by her family. She was 83.

The seventh and youngest child born to Merzie and Odell Lee, Minnie was a lifelong resident of Princeton. She was educated at the Witherspoon School for the Colored and graduated from Princeton High School. Following graduation, she went to work for the Gallup and Robinson Research Company. She worked her way up to research supervisor, a position she held for over forty years. She built lasting relationships with colleagues there who continued to stay in touch with her after her retirement.

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Minnie Craig as a child.

In 1958, Minnie married the love of her life, Eric Craig. From this union, Minnie and Eric became the proud parents of Miriam, Glenn, Donald, and Tracy; devoted and loving grandparents of Eric, Shana, Gordon, and Max; and doting great grandparents of Tiana, Mariah, Jasleen, and Autumn.

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Minnie Craig as a bride.

Following Minnie’s retirement, she became very active in the Princeton community. Princeton Alcohol and Drug Alliance, Corner House, and the Princeton Nursery School were some of the boards on which Minnie served. She also helped organize monthly community meetings for the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood residents.

She was a member of Morning Star Church of God in Christ, and always supported the activities of Mt. Pisgah AME Church and Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church. She was known for being on call at the First Baptist Church of Princeton whenever they needed her, which was often. Minnie was there to help serve at repasts held at the church.

To say that Minnie loved her children was an understatement, but her grandchildren were certainly at the top of the list for love and company.

Minnie was the treasurer of the Princeton Senior Citizens’ Club and loved planning their trips, as well as attending her many committee meetings, having visits from her grandchildren, and going to the casinos.

Minnie was preceded in death by her parents, Merzie and Odell Lee; her brothers David, Joe, and Willie Lee; her sister, Virginia Yeager; her grandson, Julian Jackson; and most recently by Eric, her beloved husband, and son Glenn.

Minnie will forever be remembered and cherished by her daughter Miriam McDaniels of Morrisville, Pa; her son Donald Craig of Princeton; her daughter Tracy Craig of Princeton, who was also her caregiver; her grandchildren Eric, Shana, Gordon, and Max; and her great-grandchildren, Tiana, Mariah, Jasleen and Autumn. She also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, Sept. 10, at the First Baptist Church of Princeton at the corner of Paul Robeson Place and John Street. The viewing will be held from 10 a.m. to noon and the service will begin at noon. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Corner House, 1 Monument Drive, Princeton, N.J. 08540

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Minnie Craig with daughter Tracy Craig during the pandemic.
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Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.

One Comment

  1. Tracy, thank you so much for posting the pictures of your Mother on the latest trip. A blessing that our last images show a happy excursion.
    What a treasure and force for good Minnie has been for the whole community. Even people who don’t know that they should be grateful to her.
    Elizabeth Bates

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