James E. “Jim” Craig Sr., aged 86, passed away in his sleep during the early hours of February 12, 2021. Born on January 7, 1935 in Waynesboro, Va to James L. and Bernice S. Craig, he was raised on Florence avenue along with his sister, Doris Jean Craig Turner who predeceased him in 2019. As a young man he earned his Eagle Scout and served on the staff of old Camp Shenandoah on the Shenandoah River at McGahesyville. He was one of the first three scouts to set foot at the current camp in Swoope. In August 1949 J.W. Fix, then scout executive, sent him there as part of a survey crew to set the dam which now forms Hope Lake. Jim’s love of Scouting would be a mainstay throughout his life. He received during his lifetime two rare honors, the Silver Beaver for service to the Stonewall Jackson Area council, and the OA Founders Award, for his dedication to Shenandoah Lodge #258. At his retirement in 2014 he had almost 70 years of service to Boy Scouts of America.

Jim moved “over the mountain” to attend the University of Virginia upon graduating Waynesboro High School. Jim was in his own words, “A fast little sucker” in his youth. He ran for the great UVA coach, Lou Honesty, from whom Honesty Field takes its name. Jim set the record in the quarter mile while racing in his fourth year, a record that stood for quite some time after he finished at the University. 

Jim married Jean Smith Winslow of Mount Armor Farm, located near Afton, VA and settled in Earlysville, with his new bride. There, he raised his three sons, James E Craig Jr of Falls Church, VA, Graven Winslow Craig of Louisa, VA and Claiborne Clinton Craig of Crozet, VA, all married with children. He is also survived by six grandchildren. During his lifetime he would broker, buy, and sell land all around Albemarle county and its surrounds, but Earlysville was his home. Later in life Jim would divorce his first wife and remarry to Jean Baum of White Hall, Virginia. They separated a few years later whereupon Jim moved to Louisa. In 2015 Jim moved to Countryside Assisted Living in Madison where Shirley, Cheryl, Rene, and Jay cared for and came to love him as one of their own. For the hard work, kindness, and the love they shared his three sons shall be eternally grateful. Thank you all for your commitment to the families.

In 1966 Jim founded the Earlysville Volunteer Fire company, serving as its first Fire Chief upon its establishment. With support from the Murray Family, donors of the land for the first fire house, Jim set about raising money, securing equipment, and building the volunteer corps that would create the foundation for today’s Earlysville Fire Company. He once shared he coaxed the operator (pre 9-1-1 days) to call him first because the other driver, Dicky Proffitt, lived a bit closer to the firehouse and the first in the door got to drive the fire engine regardless of rank. 

In April of 1976 Jim won the Amateur Stag Tournament for the first time. He along with eight other “Virginia Gentry” (the London Times coined this phrase), were charged with cockfighting while co-hosting this private social gathering at the Jones Stag Pit on Garth Road. The Sheriff at the time, George Bailey, had left after dinner but just before a roque deputy and dozens of State Troopers effected a surprise raid. Among those charged were the then President of the Virginia Bar, local attorneys, a doctor, farmer, contractor, and two realtors. The troopers seized an English handmade sterling trophy cup which was engraved with the name of the annual winner and ownership was shared by all. The DA had posited to his key witness, the “trophy was a valuable prize and thus a violation of the Commonwealths’ laws” against prizes, to which Harry George, the owner of Keller and George and the states Key Witness, said “it’s not worth ten bucks now that they carved their names in it!” Laughter erupted across the courtroom and after regaining his composure, the judge ended the spectacle and dismissed all charges for lack of evidence. Some years later, “Herman” a champion cock bird from that event, would serve as the mascot for the undefeated State Champion St. Anne’s-Belfield lacrosse team. When Herman crowed STAB won and with a 16-0 record Herman crowed a lot! 

An avid outdoorsman, Jim loved the beauty of Albemarle county and all things horse and hound. He was a past member of Farmington Hunt Club, where he earned his “colors”, Oak Ridge in Nelson, and Bull Run in Culpeper. He loved “beagling” and hosted them each year at Fishing Creek Farm in Earlysville. He volunteered as a judge at Foxfield for its first 25 years, also judging at the Gold Cup and Great Meadows. During the old days when Albemarle was still farmland, he would often spend an afternoon with his fraternity brother and good friend, Bill Trevilian, working behind pointers in search of wild quail. He shared and taught this love of the outdoors to his sons every time an opportunity presented itself.

Jim was best at deer hunting with his many friends such as O.L. Fitzgerald, who taught him, and Lloyd Smith, a longtime friend. Lloyd once shared a story about Jim taking a ten-point buck down on the James River at Howardsville the week after Christmas. The deer, after being hit, ran down the bank and swam across the river dying on an island across the James River Channel. Jim, undeterred, stripped to his shorts, climbed down the snow-covered bank and swam the ice packed river, then dragged the deer back across the river and up the bank without a word. Lloyd, a marine and combat veteran, once told me it was the manliest thing he had ever witnessed. That story explains many facets of Jim’s long and fully lived life. Dad told me when challenged, “Who needs a boat it was only a little bit of ice.” We will miss you Bulldog. God speed on your journey. 

A private ceremony is planned for the family at the Augusta Memorial Park in Waynesboro, VA. Jim was a member of The Widows Sons’ Masonic Lodge of Charlottesville and the Masons will provide last rights. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the “Camp Shenandoah Capital Fund” via Virginia Headwaters Council Office, 801 Hopeman Parkway, Waynesboro, VA, 22980.