Legacy of helping children continues
Dr. Fred Craddock died 11 years ago, but his legacy remains strong at the Craddock Center.
On his birthday, Thursday, April 30, the Center celebrated its 25th year of service to children in northern Georgia and dedicated a building on its campus.
“Today, we gather with gratitude and the joy of celebrating a meaningful moment together; the dedication of this place and the vision it represents,” Director Kirk Cameron said.
For the last 25 years, the Craddock Center has provided children’s programming, classes for parents of young children, household items for families in crisis, story books for children, cultural events, emergency kits and more to children, families and communities across southern Appalachia.
These programs impact 1,200 three and four-year-olds across nine counties.
Cameron credited the center’s success and growth to the community’s support.
“We give thanks for the generosity, hard work and faithful commitment of so many people who believe in Fred and Nettie’s vision and continue to sustain it,” he said.
The group’s building has been in use for some time, but the center chose to wait and dedicate it as part of the 25th anniversary celebration.
“Dedications are more than just ceremonies,” Cameron said. “There are moments when we pause to recognize this journey that brought us here.”
So far, the new building has hosted 387 events from 2022 to 2025. These have included weddings, recovery group meetings, civic meetings, memorial services, graduation services and more.
Fred Craddock’s wife, Nettie Craddock and son John Craddock also attended the event.
“It means a lot to us, more than we could put to words to see this place, this work, this community continue to grow and serve in such an important and meaningful way,” John Craddock said.
He added that he learned from his dad that doing good isn’t about saving the whole world at once.
It’s about taking the small actions you can do.
“Start with one child, one visit and one act of kindness,” John Craddock said.
Dr. Craddock hoped the Craddock Center could be a place where people could volunteer and help make a difference.
Several of the 26 people present shared stories of how the Craddock Center has impacted their life.
At the dedication, attendees sang the hymn, “Here I Am, Lord,” committing to help others as God leads them.
“If this building helps even one child feel seen, one family feel supported or one person feel a little less alone, it is doing exactly what we spend our life trying to do,” John Craddock said.