Theresa Crawford (1909-1990) was a beloved and active member of the Flushing, Queens community. She was was born in Whitestone, New York, to Charles and Theresa Carney Barto. At age 17, Theresa took on the tasks of raising her younger brother Vincent and running a candy store that her mother had purchased on the corner of Burling Street and Holly Avenue in Flushing, NY. In 1929, Theresa married John Crawford, of Tuckahoe, NY. This union produced two children, Jacqueline in 1936 and John Jr., in 1940. During this period, Theresa was employed by the New York Telephone Company. She stopped working for a while to raise her children. After returning to work, she attained the position of senior operator and she retired at that level when her health began to fail. Theresa had three grandchildren; Patricia, Eileen and Dennis, who was killed in a car accident at age 14. Crawford always had an open door policy for family, friends and anyone who was in need. She took in foster Children and raised one of her grandchildren, Eileen. Theresa loved her community and served in a host of organizations in a variety of positions that always aimed to make her community both progressive and safe. She served on the board of the Franconia House, the Holy House, Intermediate School 237 and the 109th precinct. As a member of the Mothers Club she helped to get Crossing Guards, a library and a new wing placed at Public School 24. She was also instrumental in getting sewage systems on Colden Street. When Intermediate School 237 was in the planning stages, she stepped in and saved four of six homes that were scheduled for demolition. When her beloved Holly Avenue became a major thoroughfare, both to and from IS 237, she had it turned into a one way street. Theresa Crawford passed away on Mother’s Day, May 13, 1990. She had just began her fourth term as President of the Holly Civics Association.