As I read all of these lovely memories from Sheila’s family, I wish I had gotten to spend more time with her. Many of my memories are the result of stories told to me by Nancy, my dear life long friend. In fact the Craig Family feels familiar to me through stories told by Nancy and Lary. I was lucky to spend some time with most of you at some point over the years as you welcomed me to your family reunions in the mountains. That’s where I witnessed the engaging smile and humor from Sheila. She always immersed herself into whatever game or story being told by one of you! Her laugh made me laugh and there was always love shared by her family.
I have love for all of you gathering to honor the life of Sheila.
John Cole
When: Approximately, 1976
In Search of the Virgin Forest
Many years ago, before Anita and I were married, we were on a Craig family vacation at Smokemont. During the trip, we heard from a Park Ranger about a virgin forest untouched by human hands.
I’ll never forget what happened when Shelia and I set out on our quest to find this elusive forest. I recently read that our destination was only 4.5 miles away, but now I realize it wasn’t just a simple hike along the one trail we took.
The hike was challenging, especially on this hot and humid summer day. We had been hiking for hours, and the forest hadn’t changed much. As we rounded the bend of a small mountain, we were suddenly overwhelmed by an awful smell. Thinking the worst with the possibility of encountering a bear, I suggested we head back to civilization. In hindsight, it was probably just the smell of sour wood, but we didn’t want to take any chances.
It was peak heat of the day, and like clockwork, the Cb’s started building. Before we knew it, we were drenched in rain, and lightning was cracking all around us. It was a terrifying experience.
After hours of hiking through the storm, we finally made it through and saw the light at the end of the tunnel—Smokemont. I was so grateful because if anything had gone wrong with Anita’s little sister, our relationship would have certainly been over.
I was a bit confused when I didn’t see Shelia for two days. I thought she was just tired and needed a little R&R, but I’m sure she was furious with me for taking her on this misguided adventure and wanted a well-deserved break from John Cole.
Richard Cole
When: Summers in the 2000's
Sheila was an adventurer, she craved the salt and ocean breeze in her hair. Looking back I've realized a few things. Even greater than her love of the ocean, was sharing it with others, her patience, and her love for family. As if her days and weekends weren't hectic enough Ben, Austin, and I would always find our way to Folly. The doors were always open to us. I swear she spent a summer where there was not a vacant cushion in that house at night. We're teenagers, so you can imagine our levels of mess, b.s., and irresponsibility. She kept the fridge stocked, a single loaf of bread stood no chance, we were all garbage disposals, that was a sandwich summer for sure. She would surprise us every once in a while with a trip to Earth Fares hot bar, it couldnt get any better. We laughed, talked, and grew. I look back on those days so fondly, becoming good surfers, skating all around the beach, and chocolate covered soy beans to top it all off. I can only imagine how much a pain in the butt we were, she handled it gracefully, took moments to teach and explore, showed us love, and joy, and stress, and pain. I still love every minute of it. Having those memories Shelia juggling sometimes 4 teenage boys and a young Ethan are priceless and will remain vivid and often revisited.
Sarah Deeds
When: June 2020
June, 2020 was the first large family gathering after the divorce. I did not attend it, but instead sent some jam and raspberry liqueur with Craig and the girls as tokens of my love.
I hated missing out on all of the family bonding that was happening, but did not want to disturb the fun by blowing up anyone’s phone.
Sheila, Anita, and Nancy must have read my mind. They did not wait for me to check in, but included me by sending me photos and summaries of the day. Below is one of the pictures Sheila sent me, showing me Tori’s first surf lesson with Michael. It is a treasure.
Sarah Deeds
When: Any time I see a car tattooed with bumper stickers!
Sheila’s cars were never boring! They lived through and gave life to countless adventures!
One of the ways you knew what she was driving at the moment was by the extensive collection of BUMPER STICKERS!
Sheila collected and displayed bumper stickers on her car with pride, the way scouts show off the badges of their life experiences on their merit badge sash.
She had such a variety of ways to commemorate places she had been / artists she liked/ and reminders for people to be kind to others.
One that always makes me think of her and smile (because I saw it first on her bumper) is the “Coexist” sticker- a gentle reminder for people to live in harmony with people of various religious beliefs.
Sarah Deeds
When: December 2012- An impactful act of service for Baba
I have not yet experienced the heavy loss of a parent, but I saw and learned things that I had never before thought about when Baba died.
Each of her children cared for her in ways that I had never imagined— that has stuck with me.
There were things that HAD to be done. Immediately. Even in the deepest, darkest moments, while time stood still.
A hospital room needed to be cleared, prescription medications needed to be discarded, appointments and payments needed to be cancelled, notices had to be written, people needed to be notified… and countless other things that I had never thought about!
If there were a checklist, one of those countless other things would probably be listed as “bathing the body of the deceased.”
This is something that one of the hospice nurses was assigned to do.
It is an emotionally draining and heart wrenching experience for us to see body of our loved one, emptied of its contents, and devoid of the spirit that we have connected with over a lifetime.
Something that I heard Sheila talk about after Baba died has taken time to sink in… over the years, I have reflected on it each time someone close to me has passed. She mentioned that she was not really supposed to, but she got to bathe Baba before they took her body to the morgue.
As difficult as it must have been, it was important to Sheila that this not be done by a stranger. She took all of the love that Baba had cultivated in her and tenderly washed the hands, feet, face and body of the one who gave her life. To her this was more than just a task— it was an act of service and gratitude, given with the utmost care, affection and dignity.
Sarah Deeds
When: 1998—
When I think of Sheila, I picture the word “family” or “ohana.”
Family (given and chosen) was Sheila’s world—and at the center of her universe were Michael and Ethan.
I was in high school when I first met Sheila. She, Michael and Ethan were new to Clarksville. Michael was in junior high and Ethan was an infant.
Sheila would come to all of Michael’s basketball games and cheer for him while my friends and I doted on baby Ethan, passing him around the bleachers and soaking up snuggles until the blurt of the final buzzer.
In 2001, when I joined the family, Sheila welcomed me warmly by catching me up on classic family tales. She radiated joy with her iconic beaming smile and contagious laughter. Sheila loved to share her knowledge and passions with others.
I have so many memories of Sheila teaching my girls and the cousins yoga/ surfing/ natural medicine (or as Craig would teasingly call it “witch doctor hy -ya- ya- ya”)…
Over the years, we shared many bonding experiences:
-Walks together in the forest along the beautiful trails
-The (near-death) French Broad tubing excursion
-Family game nights with card games such as acey-deucy/ and spoons…
I loved sitting near Sheila. She and Buffy always had the best “good luck charms” and I always looked forward to seeing any new additions to their enter ages.
Another bond we shared was our love for cooking and baking. Like all of the “Craig” girls, Sheila was a wizard in the kitchen. At one of the family reunions, we went deep sea fishing and caught over 300 lbs of black tuna and mahi. Sheila, Mikey and Ethan were in charge of dinner that night and they effortlessly threw together a family- (army) sized poké bowl : the first I had ever had. It was so simple and they let me help. They used no recipe; just added a few ingredients until it tasted right.
I wish to this day I could have written it down! I have tasted many iterations at various restaurants. I have had some that were good, but none that have ever lived up to THAT first impression!
Shopping / brunch days in downtown Brevard with “the sisters”—Nancy, Anita and Sheila- was a blast! We would go to stores such as the White Squirrel Shoppe, Hunters & Gatherers, and Theophilus. Each sister would look for and find unique things for the others… and somehow, those special things would magically appear at Christmas time.
Sheila lived life in a way that few dare to live. I knew that she “practiced yoga” but did not really start to understand what that meant until at least 2019 when I started paying attention to more than just the physical shapes/ poses and motions. Sheila lived out the yogic principles of spirit (do your best and let the rest go) and vairagya (non-attachment to outcomes, emotions, or expectations.) She trusted the process that things would work out the way they should and could have written the songs, “Lean On Me” or “I’ll Be There for You.” She knew just what to say to encourage someone going through a difficult time and those closest to her would show up and pitch in with their strengths when she needed them most.
When I was in dental school, we had the opportunity to help each other out. Sheila had a toothache. She lived in Jacksonville, Florida— a good hour and a half away from UF in Gainesville. She needed a root canal treatment at an affordable cost and I needed a patient to do a root canal treatment on in order to hone my skills and graduate. As luck would have it, Dr. Haddix, the most demanding professor in the department, was covering the clinic the day that I had scheduled Sheila’s treatment. I was SO NERVOUS!
I told Sheila how worried I was.
Looking back, SHE should have been (and probably was) nervous to have a NERVOUS student with such little experience do a root canal treatment on her tooth!
Instead of showing her fear and getting frustrated with how long the process took (it was a full 3 hour appointment!), Sheila was the best patient I could have asked for. She was extremely patient, supportive and optimistic.
With her help, I passed my competency exam and her toothache was resolved.
Although it has been several years since I have gotten to see a Sheila smile, hear a Sheila laugh, or be wrapped in a Sheila hug, those memories are still very much alive in my soul and I look forward to experiencing them again when I see her on the other side.
Namaste, Sheila.
Nancy Deeds
When: 1991 or 92
In the early fall of 91, Anita, Sheila, my mother and I had a reservation for dinner at an upscale restaurant, called The Owl and the Frog in Cashiers, North Carolina. We planned on shopping and visiting various shops in Cashiers during the day. we took our evening wear with us and planned to “ freshen up” and change prior to our reservation. There were no guest restrooms in the shops. The proprietor suggested the public facility in Cashiers. Mother and Anita used the bathroom to change which was dank, wet and very odiferous. Sheila and I decided to wait to change it a more welcoming site but we had difficulty finding a more welcoming site! Finally, there was a public restroom in a lovely antique shop. The manager smiled as Sheila and I entered. There were many customers so the bathroom was busy. Anita passed the suitcase with our dress clothes through the bathroom window after we were able to enter. There was no air-conditioning and it was difficult to get our clothes off because they stuck to our damp bodies. People were knocking on the bathroom door since we were taking a long time. The bathroom was very small and it was awkward for both of us to change at one time. Anita decided that Sheila and I needed to climb out the bathroom window with our suitcase after unlocking the door. Customers were irate and it was obvious that we had changed our clothes in the bathroom. Our mother was not pleased with all the fanfare. Sheila and I laughed at that memory many times over the years.
Ben
When: Summer 2001
One of my favorite memories of Aunt Sheila is from around 2001 in Charleston, South Carolina. She took me to a pawn shop and bought me my very first surfboard—an old-school ’90s-style thruster made by Ocean Sports.
At the time, I probably didn’t fully understand how meaningful that moment would become. She wasn’t just buying me a surfboard; she was introducing me to something she loved and passing a piece of that passion and legacy on to me.
I’m pretty sure that same weekend we were out at Folly Beach with her and my cousins, teaching me how to surf, making sure I had all the right equipment, and showing me the ropes. I can still remember the excitement of having that first board and being out there with everyone.
When I think of Aunt Sheila, that is one of the memories that always stands out. She gave me an introduction to surfing, but more importantly, she gave me a memory that I’ve carried with me for more than 25 years. I’ll always be grateful for that weekend, that surfboard, and for her sharing something she loved with me.
Sarah Cole Sawyer
When: Summer Days
One fantastic memory that has always stuck with me is experiencing her role as the fearless leader of a kid adventures trip to Six Flags Atlanta.
Looking back, I'm not entirely sure how she managed it. Taking a carload of excited, energetic kids through a theme park all day sounds like an extreme sport on its own. But Aunt Sheila seemed to do it with endless enthusiasm, a sense of humor, and a spirit that made every outing feel like an adventure.
She was the kind of person who could turn a normal day into a story worth retelling. I like to imagine there was a carefully crafted plan when we arrived at the park, but somehow it always gave way to chasing roller coasters, eating too much junk food, and squeezing every possible ounce of fun out of the day. And through it all, Sheila was right in the middle of it, leading the charge.
Those memories paint a picture of someone who was full of zest for life, generous with her time, and dedicated to creating joy for the people around her. She made childhood summers very exciting and gave us stories we'll always smile about.
Aunt Sheila's fun-loving spirit and adventurous heart clearly left a lasting mark on so many lives. She will be remembered with affection, gratitude, and more than a few laughs.
Ethan craig
When: All my life
I sit with a heavy heart writing these words attempting to sum up someone's impact like my mom's. My mom knew how to make the most out of a crummy situation to say the least. My mom and I spent a lot of time camping from camping sites alongside the Davidson river in NC to the coastal wet lands of James island SC, beautiful spots in the outer banks and hugenot memorial park here in lovely north Florida. Once we were camping at hugenot for a three day weekend and at this point we were pretty much professionals at it. However sometimes life can throw things in your way. This was a great example of life's chaos. It was Saturday afternoon and we were only one day into our three day weekend of surfing, lounging, sitting by the campfire, and having a grand Ole time. When all of a sudden a massive storm comes rolling in from the coastline right for our camp site. No need to panic right, this is Florida after all and when you camp you just might get a little wet. But I believe this storm brought part of the ocean right with it, tents flooded, dry goods no longer even close to dry, a Nikon d40 ruined from water damage, 20 mile an hour winds ripping tent stakes out of the sand like Odysseus stringing his bow with ease, all through the park tent covers, pop up shelters and even some beach chairs flying like that bag in American beauty. A real scene of beach mayhem, so we decided to pack it up in the Kia spectra, head back to Ponte vedra and salvage what was left of the weekend. You wouldnt believe it but the car wouldnt start. My mom the quick thinker that she was said we should ask people for help seeing as a tow truck wouldnt be out there for hours possibly the next day. Not long after we started our journey to find someone to help us the family that ran the snack shoppe offered to put us, all of our stuff including two nine foot surfboards in their minivan and drive us back to Ponte vedra. I still remember unloading all of our soaking wet gear in our driveway thinking my god what are we gonna do about the Kia. We got a tow truck out there and got the car situated I think that week. But I think this story just goes to show a small example of my mom's tenacity, positivity and constant belief in her fellow man when life had given her many reasons not to trust and believe she did anyway. My mom was one of the most selfless people ive ever met, I really think she cared about others more than herself, and I think that is an extremely rare quality in a human. She listened, loved and cared for Michael and I infinitely. I was extremely lucky to have her and I miss her soo much it hurts. I try not to dwell because mom was all about positivity, abundance, and trying to enjoy this shit show we call life. Love you mom. Sincerely Ethan bug
Craig
When: At our family gatherings
So many times when the family would be together I’d hear laughter coming from somewhere. Around the corner I’d go and there they’d be. Nancy, Sheila and Anita faces red eyes watering all three cackling together rocking back and forth. The way they would sit close to each other bent over knees touching and the love they have for each other showing the world what it meant to be sisters. She and I gave each other a hard time but it was always with love.
Dorothy
When: Family reunions
I’ve always looked up to Sheila. For her love of each moment she lived. I remember my conversations with Sheila the most. We would talk about life. And how we were doing, what our goals were. She has always been such a big supporter of all of my journeies. I remember sitting on the beach in the morning with our coffee watching the waves. Just enjoying each others presence. Experiencing the ocean with her was always such a joy. She had a real way of grounding you to right now, and reminded you to enjoy the gift that is the present. I still see and feel her spirt today encouraging and reassuring me, especially when there is a turtle around. <3
