James H. Craft, MD

AIKEN, SC -  James Hord Craft, M.D., 71, of Aiken, passed away peacefully at MUSC in Charleston, SC, on February 11, 2017, surrounded by his loving family and friends. Born May 2, 1945, in Gaffney, SC, he was the second son of the late Ruth Elizabeth Hord of Kings Mountain, NC, and Willian McElveen Craft of North, SC. Jim grew up in Rutherfordton, NC where he graduated from Central High School. He attended both the University of North Carolina and the University of South Carolina before enlisting in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged as a 1st Lieutenant after 3 years of service with a strong desire to join a healing profession. He entered the Medical University of South Carolina, graduating in 1974, after which he completed residency training in radiology at MUSC and a neuroradiology fellowship at Duke University. He spent most of his career in private practice and then joined the medical faculty at the Medical College of Georgia to train residents. His mentorship not only included medical training in radiology, but also his famous life lessons, known as the Big 7. Among various memberships, he was active in the South Carolina Radiological Society, The Marine Memorial Club, The Military Officers Association of America, and The Gamecock Club. He is survived by Mary Theresa Craft, his loving wife of 47+ years, and his 3 daughters, Elena Stephanie (Brian Mestan) of Austin, TX; Christina Melissa (Rusty Seymour) of Charleston, SC; and Lauren Meredith, of Porcupine, SD in addition to his 4 beloved grandchildren, Luke James Mestan and Nina Sophia Mestan of Austin, TX; and Ryan Joseph Seymour and Adam Craft Seymour of Charleston, SC. He is also survived by brothers William Jacob Craft of Greensboro, NC, and Richard Carroll Craft of Rutherfordton, NC, as well as a trove of cherished friends. Friends are invited to share in celebration of Jim’s life at the Shellhouse-Rivers Funeral Home at 715 E. Pine Log Rd from 6-8pm on Friday, Feb. 17, as well as at a memorial service in his honor at St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 11am. Jim will be entombed at Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston, SC. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Jim’s honor to The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, P.O. Box 309, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina 29465; The Leukemia Research Foundation http://www.allbloodcancers.org/; and the Michael E. Thornton Foundation http://themetfund.org/. SHELLHOUSE – RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James H. Craft, MD, please visit our flower store.