Aretha Sherdana Crawford, age 36, of 306 Dairy Street, Covington, Virginia, died Friday, July 15, 2011 at University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville.

She was born May 18, 1975 in Clifton Forge, Virginia, to Tyrone Brown and Teresa Crawford.

She was a 1993 graduate of Alleghany County High School and Commonwealth College in Virginia Beach.

She worked at the former Liberty House Nursing Home and was a nurse at the New Beginnings Adult Care Home in Covington.

She was a member of the Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by paternal grandparents, Morgan and Janette Brown, and maternal grandfather, Isaac Merchant.

She is survived by her father, Tyrone Brown of Eagle Rock and her mother, Teresa Crawford of Covington; three children, Maya Young, Tyran Young, and Amir Young, all of Covington; a sister, Cassandra Crawford of Covington; a brother, Tyrone Crawford and wife, Donielle of Atlanta, GA; grandmother, Elise Crawford of Clifton Forge; aunts, Nancy Smothers and husband, Paul of Eagle Rock, Brenda Braxton of Hot Springs, Doris Brown of Hot Springs, Jean Welch and husband, Ronald of Eagle Rock, Cindy Oglesby and husband, Al of Woodbridge, Marie Merchant and husband, Lloyd of Eagle Rock, Peggy Brown of Woodbridge, Lisa Brown of Woodbridge, and Janice Walls and husband, Jimmy of Clifton Forge; uncles, Morgan Brown and wife, Daisy of Waynesboro, Victor Brown and wife, Robbin of Clifton Forge, Curtis Brown of Eagle Rock, Michael Brown of Eagle Rock, Kenny Brown and wife, Dianys of Maryland, Bernard "Bootsie" Merchant, Jr. of Lexington; and special uncle, Jeffrey Crawford of Clifton Forge; a number of great aunts, great uncles, and cousins; and special friends, Lloyd Moore of Roanoke, Ryan Young of Covington, Tasha Cooper, Debbie Heighter, Michelle Allen, Subrena Cooper, Katrina Call, Nadeen Allen, William Allen, and Katina Barber.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge with Reverend David Halsey officiating and Reverend Arlene Cooper delivering the eulogy. Interment will follow in Rising Mt. Zion Church Cemetery, Gala. Pallbearers will be Neal Brown, Victor Brown, Travis Braxton, Michael Allen, Floyd Moore, William Allen, Leroy Twitty, and Van Rogers, Jr. Flowerbearers will be Carol Brown, Dawn Wilson, Les Merchant, Debbie Heighter, GiGi Mack, and JoAnn Barber.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Nicely Funeral Home and other times at the residence of Teresa Crawford, 532 Beverly Street, Covington, VA.