The Reverend Dr. Timothy Lent Croft

November 10, 2018

Reverend Dr. Timothy Lent Croft, who was born on May 12, 1944 in Wichita, Kansas and who grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, died at home in Charlotte on November 10, 2018.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at Myers Park Presbyterian with The Reverend Joe Clifford officiating.  The family will receive friends in Oxford Hall following the service.  Tim’s ashes will be placed in the Myers Park Presbyterian Memorial Garden and in the Croft cemetery plot at the Chapel By the Sea, Captiva, Florida.

Tim was predeceased on March 28, 1984 by his beloved first wife Carol Devlin Watson of Greenwood, South Carolina.  He is survived by his beloved wife Margaret Ann Moses of Charleston, West Virginia, the five children and twelve grandchildren they share: Thomas Layton Croft and Chaandmon and Sky Croft of Charlotte, NC; Ann Bryson Croft McLean (John) and J.P., Annie and Croft McLean of Cape Carteret, North Carolina; Caroline Watson Croft Estay (Pete) and Brayden and Holland Gaston, and Lena Grace and Austen Estay of Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Sarah Elizabeth Benson Finch (Geordie) and Ryan Finch of Thousand Oaks, California and Jeremy Eldon Benson (April) and Marit and Torin Benson of Arvada, Colorado.

Tim is also survived by his two brothers, Terrence L. Croft Esq. (Merry) and Thomas A. Croft Esq. of Atlanta, GA and his sister, Reverend Anne Bartlett (Bill), an Episcopal priest of Talent, Oregon.  In addition, Tim is survived by his sister-in-law Frances M. Fesenmaier (Steve) of Charleston, West Virginia and two brothers in law, Dr. Nat E. Watson of Winston Salem, NC and A. Hamilton Cooke Esq. of Jacksonville, Florida and many nieces and nephews.

Tim graduated from the John Burroughs High School in St. Louis, Davidson College, the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and he studied Systematic Theology at New College of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.  Tim was awarded honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees from both Presbyterian College and Davidson College.

Tim loved Jesus.  He also loved pink sirloin, cold Bud, Medoc, Lagavulin, Heath bars, fast cars, fast boats, saltwater fishing, especially in Alaska, and European travels with Margaret- and all the while was devoted to Jesus.  He served the Hunter Presbyterian Church in Lexington, Kentucky; the First Presbyterian Church in Franklin, Tennessee, the First Presbyterian Church in Lynchburg, Virginia; the Miami Shores Presbyterian Church in Miami Shores, Florida; the Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina and the Sneads Ferry Presbyterian Church in Sneads Ferry, North Carolina.  He also served for 6 years as Senior Vice President at First Union National Bank in Charlotte.

Tim lived life to the fullest and enjoyed every moment of it.  He took nothing for granted and he believed in the priesthood of all believers.  He believed that all are saved by grace through faith.   And he believed that nothing in this life or beyond this life will ever be able to separate us from the love of God freely and abundantly extended to all in Christ Jesus our Lord.  For several years Tim fought a consistently positive though uphill battle against the insidiously downhill lung disease IPF.  And in the end, by faith, Tim won!

In lieu of flowers, please feed the hungry, pray for peace, and tell all those whom you love that you love them everyday!

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.

 

 

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  • Dr. A. Cash Koeniger

    Tim was a powerful preacher and an amazing man. Some measure of that is reflected, perhaps, in the fact that I googled his name just now to see how and what he was doing nearly 50 years after we last saw each other. He was my pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Franklin, Tennessee, in the 1970s, when we were both very young. His sermons were so absorbing, profound, and moving that I often found myself choking back a tear near their conclusion. On such occasions I was always grateful that the closing hymn afforded an opportunity to compose myself before filing out to shake his hand! No minister before or since has had that effect on me. In those days he made written copies of his sermons available, and I devoured them eagerly until I discovered that the written word failed to do them justice. Without the sight and sound of Tim in the pulpit, they just weren’t the same. Still, I wish I had some of them now. The word “charismatic” is overused, but it is the only way to describe Tim. I managed to find his email address and wrote him perhaps fifteen years ago to say hello and let him know that I still remembered him fondly, and he responded in kind; I will never know whether he really remembered or was just gracious enough to say so. Either way, he was a kind man, a powerful preacher, and an exemplary Christian gentleman. I am very sorry to learn of his passing but know that our loss is Heaven’s gain.

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  • Jose’ y LucyLee Ojeda

    My wife LucyLee and I are together because of Tim. While LucyLee had been a member of Miami Shores Presbyterian. Church since she was a young child, I was drawn to the church by a sermon Tim gave on Easter Sunday, 1984. The power of his word brought me to the church, where I met my beautiful wife, LucyLee. We married not even a year after meeting at coffee hour, and over 35 years later, we have a beautiful daughter and life together. If it wasn’t for Tim’s word, I would have never gone to church. If I hadn’t gone to church, I would not have met my wife LucyLee. If I had not met LucyLee, I would not have the beautiful daughter and life I/we have now.
    Thank you, Tim, for the perfect life I/we have. It would not have been possible without you,
    I love you like a father. May you Rest In Peace. With our profound love and respect, we remain, Jose and LucyLee Ojeda.

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  • Paul Morton

    I was introduced to Pastor Croft by my eldest son,Dr.Isaac Morton.I later attended many services held at the Sneads Ferry sanctuary, I was always amazed by his focus upon Christ Jesus and his ability to share the gospel in such a profound way.God blessed this man with ability to bring the English language alive in such a way that as he spoke it was if you were there.My sons and I have some recorded messages and we listen to them often.Gods love, hope,wisdom and peace did freely flow from Dr.Croft and we each are blessed to have known him!!!!!

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  • Barbara Hampton

    Dear Margaret and Children,
    I have but fond memories of Tim, so loving, such a wonderful preacher, and I will never forget the love and comfort he gave our family when my nephew John Owens died suddenly at the age of 20. His sermon was beautiful. I know, Margaret, you will miss him dearly, love to all of you.
    Barbara Hampton

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  • Windy White

    Tim and I met when he asked me to do some carpentry work . We became good friends and shared many jokes together over the years .It was always a pleasure to be with him .Such a caring man and a gentleman. He had a wonderful attitude and a spirit that you could almost feel.I will always remember his beautiful smile, strong hand shake and a man hug.You will be missed my friend .I think of you daily and I am sorry that we can not have our good laughs together but you will always be in my heart.Love,Windy

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  • Grady Perryman

    I admired Tim in so many ways - as my mentor, my colleague, my pastor, my teacher, my friend. My heart goes out to Margaret, their children, their grandchildren, and all their family. Truly all who knew Tim feel so privileged that God blessed us by having Tim cross our path.
    As so many have said, "Well done, Good and Faithful Servant. Enter into the joy of your Master!"

    Grady Perryman
    Raleigh, NC

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  • Art and Ann Edgerton

    We wish to extend our heartfelt sympathy to Margaret and all of the Croft family but rejoice that Tim has now joined his Savior and achieved the final victory over his lung disease. It was our good fortune that our paths as well as those of our children, Anna and Colston crossed with Tim's at MPPC and each of us learned much regarding the priesthood of believers and the joys of Christian fellowship. That joy has never been more personally experienced by Art than a week in Alaska with Tim and other men from MPPC also privileged to attend. His sermons were mesmerizing and impactful. We marvel at all the lives he touched for Christ and how that influence has since spread.

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  • Charles " Chuck " Medland

    So sorry to hear of Tim's death.I remember all the Living Nativities we were involved in at Miami Shores Presbyterian Church. A Great person and Friend . Sympathy to All the family.

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  • Max Muhleman

    Always thankful for the moment he was in and impossible to discourage, Tim Croft had life figured out as well as anyone I’ve ever met. He loved his Lord Jesus and treated every person he met as if they were a blood brother or sister. He knew the gift of life was to be enjoyed in thanksgiving , sharing, caring and helping, accompanied by unlimited expressions of laughter, happiness and joy. And he was a wholesale distributor.
    God bless you, my friend, and Margaret be comforted, as well as all family. You lit our path with a brilliant light, and we are thankful.

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  • Frances Clausing

    Margaret, Bethany Dendy with whom I work at U.S. Customs, told me today about Tim's death. I have such good memories of when you and he filled in at the little McClure Church in Castle Hayne, N. C. When you all went to Sneads Ferry, I made sure to tell Bethany and Cedric to "try out" that church to hear Tim. They did, joined the church, and loved you both. I am so happy I had the privilege to hear Tim's sermons (and how he always remembered everyone's name - one always left church feeling so good). My thoughts and prayers are with you. May God's Omnipotence and Providence be with you and your family during your time of sorrow.

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