Community Activist Needs Help Burying White Sox Fan

(from left) Andrew Holmes, a South Side community activist, surprised CP Crawford on his 112th birthday in August with tickets for him to attend his first Chicago White Sox game. Photo credit: Courtesy of Andrew Holmes
(from left) Andrew Holmes, a South Side community activist, surprised CP Crawford on his 112th birthday in August with tickets for him to attend his first Chicago White Sox game. Photo credit: Courtesy of Andrew Holmes

Community Activist Needs Help Burying White Sox Fan

BY WENDELL HUTSON, Contributing Writer

Aft er taking a lifelong Chicago White Sox fan to his first ball game at Guarantee Rate Field in August to celebrate his 112th birthday, Andrew Holmes now finds himself raising money to bury perhaps the oldest U.S. citizen.

CP Crawford died on Nov. 23, but his body still remains with Gatling’s Chapel Inc. until enough money is raised to bury him.

Andre LaNier, a spokesman for Gatling’s Chapel, said it would preserve Crawford’s body until money can be raised for a burial.

“We don’t expect this to linger on too long and we are working with Andrew Holmes to make this happen as quickly as possible,” said LaNier.

It is Holmes’ goal to raise enough money in the next two weeks.

“I’d say at least $9,000 needs to be raised to give him a proper burial,” said Holmes, a 59-year-old community activist from the South Side. “He did not want to be cremated, so while it’s cheaper than a burial, I want to honor his wishes.”

And rather than start an online fundraiser, Holmes instead is asking the public to make donations to the Andrew Holmes Foundation at Chase Bank.

“The account number for the foundation is 262602979 for anyone who simply wants to transfer money from their bank account to the foundation,” added Holmes. “Mr. Crawford does not have any living relatives that I know about although I am still searching. He was married before, but never had any biological children.”

However, Chase Bank officials said donations should not be made in cash.

“If someone wants to make a donation in person at a Chase branch, they should not bring cash, but a check,” said Brian Hanover, a spokesman for J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., parent of Chase Bank. “Most banks do not accept cash donations for accounts setup for fundraisers and Chase is no different. Donations to the account could also be made via wire transfer, Zelle and QuickPay.”

Crawford, a former sharecropper from Jackson, MS, moved to Chicago in 1925 and worked for several years at the Southland Oil Refinery and later at the Illinois Central Railroad, according to Holmes. Crawford died at the Tri-State Village Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Lansing where he had lived for years.

Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison (17th) donated $1,000 to the fundraiser, said Chris Provenzano, deputy chief of staff to Morrison.

“I can confirm that Commissioner Morrison has in fact donated $1,000 to this cause and hopes that others follow suit,” he said. “Th e commissioner and Mr. Holmes have worked on community projects together in the past and have developed a friendship as a result.”

South Suburban Lansing is located in the 4th District and is represented by Cook County Commissioner Stanley Moore, whom Holmes said is also working with him to raise funds to celebrate Crawford’s life.

“Commissioner Moore is putting together a proclamation on behalf of my dear friend CP Crawford,” said Holmes. “He is well aware of what’s gong on and has been working with me every step.”

Crawford was a member of Holmes’ Club 100, a seniors group he started in 2012 to honor centenarians.

“This year, the group consists of 36 members and every year around May we gather at the Salvation Army on West 69th Street [in Englewood] to celebrate them,” said Holmes. “It’s a beautiful site to see seniors, who have given so much of themselves to others, having a good old time.”

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