Frederick Arthur Croom (Freddy) - Savannah - Frederick Arthur Croom (Freddy), age 63, died Wednesday, February 14, 2007, after a brief but serious illness. He had been a long-time resident of the group home system of Gateway Behavior Health Services, entered Riverview Health and Rehabilitation Center in April, 2006, and was placed in Candler Hospital prior to his transfer to Hospice Savannah. He is survived by nieces Malenka Croom Warner of Atlanta, Pamela Croom Traynor of Maryland, Jennifer Croom of Dacula, Billie Croom Woods of Savannah, and by nephew William D. Croom, Jr., of Loganville. He is also survived by his brothers and their wives, William D. Croom, Sr. and Mildred, of Savannah, and Robert E. Croom and Beverly Jo, of Union City, Georgia. Freddy was born in June of 1943 in Savannah. He was the son of the late Archie T. Croom, Sr. and the late Lillian Carlisle (Burney) Croom. When Freddy was a child, doctors and other professionals repeatedly diagnosed him as severely retarded and in need of immediate and permanent institutionalization. Their prognosis was uniformly poor, concluding that Freddy would not live to reach adolescence. Added to that burden for our parents, as for most parents of special-needs children in that era, was the numbing realization that there would be no specialized academic, training, recreational, or health services available to Freddy. However, the diagnosing professionals did not consider the tenacity of Irish parents who felt pushed into a corner. Freddy's mother, together with a group of other concerned mothers, worked tirelessly to bring local and state awareness to the plight of special-needs children. Long before the untimely Alzheimer's-related death of our mother, her group had been successful in creating rudimentary school-type "classes" for special-needs children in homes and even in the "old fort" building at Forsyth Park. In those and other locations, Freddy remained in the developing sheltered workshop program on weekdays from his childhood until late in his life. He never lost his affection for his work there or for the people he looked forward to seeing every day. In his teen-age years, Freddy's love for riding his bicycle took him all over Savannah. When he traveled around the city with his parents, they were always surprised by the number of places where Freddy was known. He had already been there on his bicycle. Later, Freddy went through a period of several years when, without prompting, he could correctly recite the make and model of automobiles he passed on the street. e always loved to sing church songs because, in his way, he knew who and what he was singing about. What he lacked in mastery of the words and notes he more than made up for in enthusiasm. He loved to dance, which he also did enthusiastically, either by himself or "somewhere near" a partner at social events sponsored by the group homes or others. Until the late 1960's, he regularly attended Morningside Baptist Church, where his parents were charter members. When Bible Baptist Church invited him to begin attending the Lighted Pathway Ministry, a special-needs program of that church, he was happy to see their volunteers faithfully arriving each Sunday morning to transport him to the church where he felt so welcome and involved for a great number of years. When our father died in 1980, Freddy remained in the home place with his stepmother, Corinne Adams Croom. He continued his daily van trips to the sheltered workshop which had become so much a part of his life, and he continued to participate in the Lighted Pathway Ministry as well. Changes in his at-home needs caused us to reexamine that living arrangement and, in 1992, Freddy formally entered the group home system in Savannah. He continued his long-standing daily participation in the sheltered workshop, as well as his Sunday trips to Bible Baptist Church. He adjusted immediately to his new residence and, from his earliest days there, always considered his group home to be his personal home. Relatives and friends whom he might be visiting soon learned that Freddy was always quick to remind them-repeatedly-when he felt it was time for him to return to his beloved group home. Both before and after his entry into the group home program, Freddy was a regular bowler in a program sponsored by the Ambucs organization. With his bowling ball and shoes in their bag, and sporting his Ambucs shirt, he thoroughly enjoyed getting to the games to participate in the fellowship and the competition in Savannah and elsewhere. A cabinet in his family bedroom held more than 20 of his bowling trophies. Freddy was also active in Special Olympics and in the many programs offered by Leisure Savannah. He thoroughly enjoyed traveling, and his love of people kept him from ever meeting a stranger. He was able to continue much of his activities at church and in recreational programs until his health began to fail, and it was that failing health that eventually led to his placement at Riverview Health and Rehabilitation Center in April, 2006, his hospitalization in early February, 2007, and finally his transfer to Hospice Savannah. The original dim prognosis for his life, both in terms of anticipated years and predicted quality, could not compete with Freddy's indomitable spirit and the loving care of our parents and others around him. Freddy's good life on this earth lasted 63 years, and his long life was filled with caring people, enjoyable experiences, and no strangers. Freddy was truly a "special" person, and he leaves many special memories. Visitation with family will be at Fox and Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel, on Friday evening, February 16, from 5pm-7pm, and from 10am-11am on Saturday, February 17. The funeral service will begin in the chapel at 11:00 a.m., and will be led by Rev. Everett Tumblin, the former pastor of Morningside Baptist Church, and by Rev. Robert Croom, Freddy's brother. Pallbearers will be John Tatum, Albert Murray, George Smith, James Nelson, Stanley Taylor, and John C. Fulcher. Burial will be in the family plot at Hillcrest Abbey Memorial Park on Wheaton Street, and the graveside service will be led by Rev. Tommy East, Associate Pastor of Bible Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Freddy may be made to Lighted Pathway Ministry, Bible Baptist Church, 4700 Skidaway Road, Savannah, GA 31404. Savannah Morning News February 16, 2007 Please sign our Obituary Guest Book at www.savannahnow.com.

Published in Savannah Morning News from February 15 to February 16, 2007