Colonel Harold A. Crain, 95, passed away at his home on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 surrounded by his loving family.

Col. Crain was born on September 20, 1926 in Tylertown, Mississippi. He joined the Army in 1944 and served 42 years, during which he fought in WWII and the Korean War, and served during the Vietnam War. He was a proudly decorated Veteran, having received a Purple Heart, Bronze Star with V Device, Army Commendation Medal, United Nations Award, Mississippi Magnolia Medal and Valor Award, along with many others. He also served on a 15-person committee out of the U.S. Pentagon, where he played an integral part in developing a plan to better protect combat soldiers and reduce the number of casualties.

After his military retirement, Col. Crain worked as the Director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), where he implemented the state's first disaster assistance plan in the 1970s. He then went on to work for the MS Secretary of State and Attorney General, and was eventually elected as the Rankin County Election Commissioner, where he served several terms before serving as Rankin County's Veterans Affairs Officer. Additionally, he also served as a Sunday School Teacher and Deacon at his church.  He was a member of First Baptist Fannin Church.

As proud as he was of his life's many achievements, his absolute greatest pride and joy was his family. His life's goal was to leave a legacy, and that, he did!

He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Chris Crain; eldest son, Gary (Angela) of Canton; youngest son, David (Stacy) of Brandon; grandchildren, Phillip Crain (Amberly), Shannon Crain Coleman, Regan Crain Samson (Jordan), and Rebekah Crain Ledbetter (McGee); and five great-grandchildren, Brayden, Jase, and Myles Crain (Phillip), and Bentley and Bowen Coleman (Shannon).

Col. Crain is preceded in death by his parents, Mr. & Mrs. D. E. Crain of Tylertown; brothers, Edgar Crain of Tylertown and Alvin Crain of Gulfport; and son, Jeffrey Crain of Brandon.

Visitation will be held Friday, June 3, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at First Baptist Fannin with funeral services at 12:00 p.m.  Interment will follow at Parkway Memorial Cemetery, Ridgeland.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Baptist Fannin.