Obituary of Marymor Sanborn Cravens

Obituary for Marymor “Boo” Sanborn Cravens

 

Marymor “Boo” Sanborn Cravens, 96, longtime Sewanee resident, died peacefully Wednesday

May 9, 2018. Born in Nashville, Tn. to Cummings Avery Sanborn and Mary Moore Sanborn,

she was reared in Mississippi and New Orleans.

 

She attended the University of Tennessee in Memphis and served in the Red Cross in

Calcutta from 1944-1945. She received her M.S.W. degree from Richmond Professional

Institute in 1952.

 

Her professional social work career included adoption work in NYC and Memphis. She

was a member of the first traveling psychiatric social services provided in Tennessee. She

worked at Moccasin Bend Hospital in Chattanooga for many years while commuting from

Sewanee. She was instrumental in starting the Fourth of July parade in Sewanee.

 

Boo was married to her devoted husband DuVal “Duvie” Cravens Jr for 44 years. She is

also predeceased by her siblings,  Avery, Cynthia and Audrey.  She leaves a host of nieces and

nephews and other family members on both sides of her family. Those include Rhea Cravens

(Steve), Fain Cravens (Clancy) and DuVal Cravens(J.D.) , Cynthia Putnam(Calhoun), Meredith

Ramsey (Kurt) and Tamara Gamble(Harry).

 

Boo was a force of nature, a feminist, long time civil rights advocate and general

advocate for the oppressed and infirm. She loved and was fascinated by people from

everywhere and of all ages with a particular affinity for children. She had a ferocious curiosity

about the world and loved to travel. One remembered when they had met Boo Cravens.

 

Their house in Sewanee had its door open to all and there was a parade of countries,

religions and colors through those doors. Boo gave advice freely and often whether in their

living room with a blazing fire or rocking on one of her porches at Driftwood, their house which

her grandmother had built. Driftwood was right around the corner for the Cravens

grandparents’ house, Arcadia. These two families have a long history in Sewanee.

 

The family would like to thank Vickie Marlowe for the years of loving care she gave Boo.

 

A service of celebration will be held on May 23, 2018 at 2:30 at the University Cemetery

in Sewanee, Tn. In lieu of flowers please make a contribution to one of the following: NAACP,

National Public Television, Planned Parenthood or the charity of your choice.