Reverend Alex Crittenden, 73, of Port Huron, was called to eternal rest on March 28, 2022. He was born in Texarkana, Arkansas on October 12, 1948, moved to Port Huron in August of 1969 and began a career in teaching at the age of twenty.
Pastor Crittenden attended school in the state of Arkansas, graduating from Booker T. Washington High School. He enrolled at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff where he graduated three years later with a degree in English and Liberal Arts with a minor in Radio and Television broadcasting.
He furthered his education at Wayne State University, receiving his Master’s Degree in education in 1974. He began his teaching career with the Port Huron Area School District and retired at age 53 after 35 years of service, ending his career as a District School Administrator.
In addition to the University of Arkansas and Wayne State University, he received an Associate’s Degree from William Tyndale Bible College in Farmington Hills, Michigan, focusing on family values and marriage counseling. Pastor Crittenden held the pastoral leadership position at Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church for 34 years. He served as president of the South Side Ministerial Alliance which later merged with the Blue Water Area Church Alliance in 2014.
Some of his other involvements included secretary of the Port Huron Scholarship Assistance Program, former member of the Minority Affairs Board of St. Clair County Community College, board member with Operation Transformation, life member of the NAACP, board member of SONS Outreach Ministries and a member of the Nu Omega Chapter (Detroit) Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
Pastor Crittenden received the city’s Brotherhood Award presented by the mayor in the winter of 2012. He and his wife, Ruby were co-founders of a Christian Couples Ministry which began in 2002. In addition to his dedication to Christ, Alex and Ruby shared a passion for golf and enjoyed traveling.
One of his favorite quotes was: If you find yourself stressed out, “Put it in God’s hands and call it a day.”
He leaves to mourn his passing his wife of 52 years, Ruby; daughter, Gayle (Derrick) James; son, Kevin; loving granddaughter, Amaya; goddaughter, Haran Stanley; adopted granddaughter, Makayla Stanley; sister, Rutha Crittenden; brother, Lee Charles Crittenden; step-brother Ronnie McGowen; adoptive sister, Doris Block; godsons, Morris Hall Jr. and Dr. Antwan Hall; and a host of relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his paternal parents, LaCharles and Georgia Crittenden; his adoptive parents, David and Ella Thomas; and sister, Marilyn.
He leaves us with this final message: “Maybe I didn’t get everything right, but I tried. To my family: Please love me enough to let go.”
Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on Sunday, April 3, 2022 in Pollock-Randall Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 4, 2022 in Restoration Christian Community Church, 3201 Gratiot Avenue, Port Huron, with visitation beginning at 10:30 a.m. The Reverend Carl Miller will officiate. Friends and family may view the livestream of the service by going to Reverend Crittenden’s obituary on the funeral home website.
Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to SONS. To send condolences, visit pollockrandall.com
