Tim Crews came into this world too soon weighing 2lb., 3oz on February 23, 1954, and left too soon Friday, October 2, 2026.
Surviving as a preemie in 1954 was surreal, but his parents, Plen and Irene Hickox Crews, brought him home to Brantley County and defied the odds. Mrs. Rebecca Griner, with the Brantley County Health Department, carried an incubator (that looked something like today’s biddy hatcher) to their home and with her guidance he survived.
No NICU for him. Crews would grow up to attend his parents’ funerals and then funerals for each of his siblings, Ben Crews, Kermit Crews, Barbara Jean Crews Kelly, Gary Crews and Kathy Crews Warren. The reality that he was the last sibling hit him very hard when Kathy left in 2024.
He will always be Dad to Emalee Elizabeth Crews and “Papa Tim” to Rigel Lee Jackson. Emalee and Rigel were right there with him, holding his hands when he left us Friday morning at Satilla Memorial.
Crews’s early life was drag racing, picking tobacco (and smoking tobacco) and delivering furniture for Cecil Moody. He played box guitar by ear and played bass for The Realistics at the State Line Drive Inn on weekends. And, he was barely 18.
Thankfully, he aged out of these habits and into fishing, chewing tobacco, collecting vintage cars, guns, knives and just telling stories about the good ole days.
Crews graduated from Brantley County High School in 1972. He attended the first-ever EMT class in Brantley County, which was sponsored by the state in 1972. From that class, Brantley County Rescue Volunteers would be formed.
Guy Chambless would change his hearse for an ambulance, Brantley County Telephone would set up an elaborate system to dial #007 for help and Crews, EMT 209, would begin his lifelong career in EMS.
He went to work for the Ware County EMS under Fire Chief Jimmy Brown in 1973. Later that year, Fred James took over Ware EMS and Crews was named assistant director. Then in 1981 Jimmy Woodard, Brantley County Commission chairman, made it his goal to have a full-time paid EMS in Brantley County and approached Crews to be the director.
He took the job and began the long journey of building Brantley EMS. During this time, Crews went back to school for his Cardiac Technician and Paramedic certification.
In the 1980s, BCEMS was Crews, Sidney Hulett, David Herrin, Sam Young and Sandra Crews covering 24/7 and the volunteers were still helping, too. The state made the rules and had mandatory requirements, but the county had to pay for all this.
Crews’s job was to do the most with the least amount and make it work. So, personnel changed out alternators and batteries, repaired the suctions, and had homemade back boards. Crews and Herrin even changed the Life Pak 4 battery one time (dangerous).
Crews set up battery backups for the towers and wired up new ambulance phones from the state with Mike Monroe. EMS made its own road maps as Brantley County was growing by leaps and bounds and 911 became a reality.
Crews was in charge and Sissy Bradshaw, from Ware 911, helped with the protocols. David Farrior built the cabinets to house the 911 equipment. The list of all the personnel doing work could go on forever.
As the years passed, the EMS was stable and Crews could just be the director. Then after 37+ years of working for the Brantley County EMS, his home county, giving his all and just shy of retiring, the Brantley County commissioners decided to make unwarranted allegations and terminate him.
You read that correctly, they terminated a 60+year-old employee after 37+ years of employment. No retirement party, no thanks, no appreciation, just don’t let the door hit you on the way out attitude.
Paramedic 1368 had an EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) case under the ADEA (Age Discrimination in Employment Act) and OWBPA (Older Workers Benefit Protection Act), but chose not to pursue it since his support system was long gone. Instead he proudly walked away.
Paramedic 1369 was tired of fighting the commissioners for a workable budget, tired of the threats to privatize the service and tired of trying to keep good employees with the current pay. Crews, Paramedic 1369, worked his last years with Heartland EMS in Ware County and enjoyed it.
After Crews retired, he became an avid gun collector. He enjoyed working on guns and going to gun shows. He loved rocking alongside friends, Mark, John J., Mike, Ken, Fred, Huey and Nathan to name just a few.
He enjoyed his excursions with Jameson, BTW, thanks for the videos you made with him — we will treasure these.
Crews loved his family, although he was “bullheaded” with them about going to the doctor. He enjoyed family reunions and class reunions, was a Mason (inactive) and gave his life to Jesus many years ago.
This past Monday (September 28), Crews was outside rocking and drinking sweet tea (yes, sweet) with Buck and then Friday God chose to take him home. We will end this with one of his favorites from Bocephus’ “...’Cause we’re them good old boys raised on shotguns, And we say grace and we say ma’am …...... And, if the sun doesn’t rise tomorrow, People, I’ve had a good time.”
A memorial service was be held at Nahunta Methodist Church.
Expressions of sympathy may be posted to his tribute wall at www.musicfuneralhome. com.
Music Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
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