William Harvey Craig

William “Bill” Harvey Craig, 87, of Eden, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at UNC Rockingham Hospital in Eden, surrounded by family and friends.

A service to celebrate the life of Bill will be held November 29, 2025, at 11:00am at Fair Funeral Home with a reception immediately following the service at the Morehead-Fair House.

The family will meet at other times at 417 Greenway Dr., Eden.

Bill was born October 12, 1938, in Martinsville, Virginia, to the late John Harvey Craig and Annie Lawless Craig. He was a graduate of Martinsville High School class of 1957 and attended Bluefield College and Virginia Tech. Bill was a member of Stuart Baptist Church. He worked as a Magistrate with the 21st Judicial District of Virginia.

Bill was an avid lover of music and found pleasure in both instrumental and voice. From his teenage years, Bill, performed in both high school and college bands and also in a small professional band, The Meltones of Martinsville, where he played the upright bass. His love of singing as a tenor presented him with the opportunity to participate with the Stuart Baptist Church Choir and Men's Quartet, Belles and Beaus, Esprit de Corps, and the Renaissance Revilers. He enjoyed all genres of music but he was especially fond of classical.

As a member of the Virginia Magistrates Association, Bill enjoyed serving as a representative on the legislative committee to the Virginia General Assembly. He also served a term as the President of the Magistrates Association.

Bill was an avid reader and a sports columnist writing under the pseudonym of C.C. Ceay for The Enterprise of Stuart, Virginia. His writing won state recognition on many occasions.

A loyal Virginia Tech Hokie, Bill found immense pleasure in sharing the love of Hokie Football with his family and friends. Whether it was attending games in person, traveling to many bowl games or having a large gathering at home he inspired three generations to carry on a legacy of die-hard Hokies.

Surviving are his wife, Loretta V. Craig; daughter, Cathy McLachlan (Bill) of Williamsburg, VA; daughter, Jackie Van Dyke (Litz) of Martinsville, VA; stepdaughter, Donna H. LaPrade (Bryan) of Eden, NC; stepson, Lamar Holliman (Janet) of Ridgeway, VA; stepson, Jeff Holliman (Dena) of Homosassa, FL; grandchildren, Kathleen Geddy, Mary Page McLachlan, George Van Dyke, Spencer Van Dyke, Jonathan Van Dyke, Craig Van Dyke, Christopher LaPrade, Will LaPrade, Stephanie Kennedy; Kyle Holliman, Jeffrey Lee Holliman, Meredith Taylor, Jay Holliman, Elizabeth Holliman; and thirteen great-grandchildren.

In addition, to his parents he was predeceased by his sister, Mary Ann Crouch.

Memorial contributions to Rockingham County Animal Shelter, 250 Cherokee Camp Road, Reidsville, NC 27320

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.fairfuneralhome.com.