Sidney Crowe

Sidney Bernard Crowe, age 90 of Cleveland Ga passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on Sunday, March 29, 2026.

Sid was born April 8, 1935, in Hiawassee, Ga to the late Archie Bernard Crowe and Mae Corn Crowe.

Sid spent his early childhood in Hiawassee at the Corn family home where his mother grew up. In his first year of school, he was assigned the task of bringing water from the spring each day as his teacher said he was the strongest boy in class.

As a boy, he gave his heart to the Lord and made a proclamation of faith in Jesus Christ. Later his family relocated to South Carolina to join his father where he was a teacher at Tamassee DAR School and Sid began attending school at Tamassee. During the summer, Sid worked on the construction of many of the school buildings throughout his years at Tamassee.

Upon graduation, Sid joined family members in Akron Ohio and attended college for a year. He also worked at the Goodyear Dirigible hanger “Goodyear Airdock” while taking classes. Sid later returned to Georgia where he drove truck for a short period and at the age of 22 in 1957 joined the Marine Corps, and then began the journey of serving his nation for 22 years.

Throughout his career he served in many locations: Okinawa Japan (Twice), Camp Lejeune North Carolina, Parris Island South Carolina (Twice, once as drill instructor and once assigned to motor pool), and the Navy Marine Corps Reserve Training Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Sid proudly served two one-year tours in Vietnam (non-consecutive). He retired in 1979 while stationed at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Georgia.

While stationed at Camp Lejeune and on leave visiting family in Georgia, he met and later married his first wife in 1959, Lestra Jean Waters (deceased). They had one child, Sydney Derek Crowe in 1960.

Known for his strong work ethic, Sid excelled in transportation and mechanics, and later served three years as Drill Instructor at Parris Island South Carolina. (This is normally considered a “controlled” tour assignment with a commitment of two years but due to the dire need of drill instructors during the Vietnam war, he selflessly volunteered an extra year to the drill instructors’ mission.)

After retirement from the Marine Corp, Sid owned and operated his own semi-truck, leasing services to first Brown Transport, then Anderson, traveling the entire United States (to include Alaska) for over 20 years and notably achieved over a million miles without an accident.

Sid met and later married Floy Lee Ridley in 1990, in a small ceremony in Cleveland, Georgia.

Sid loved to laugh and enjoy time with his late wife, Floy Lee. Together they enjoyed camping, traveling, canning, and watching NASCAR, and always cherished good meals with family and friends.

Sid was a member of the USMC East Coast Marine Drill Instructors Association and enjoyed attending annual reunions at Parris Island.

Sid made life more vibrant for everyone around him with his sense of humor, quick wit, and his infectious laughter. He was a remarkable man and will be deeply missed.

Preceding him in death, in addition to his parents, are his wife, Floy Lee Crowe, brothers: Mitchell Crowe, Lee Crowe, and his sister Cathy Crowe, and his son Michael Ridley.

Survivors include sons, Sydney Derek Crowe, his spouse Puri Crowe, Madrid, Spain; Mitchell Ridley, his spouse Shay Ridley, Dahlonega, GA. Sister Janice Peace, Rock Hill, SC. And special friend Joyce Bowman of Cleveland, GA.

Numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive.

With great respect and sincere appreciation, we would like to thank the staff and warm-hearted individuals of the North Georgia Medical Center Hospice Care. Special mention to Kristin Berry (RN), Julia Reece (CNA), Bethany Bultz (RN), Jeffrey Dykes (RN), Brad Perry (RN), Jentry Mitchell (CNA), and Aija Wilson (CNA).

We are also greatly indebted to the wonderful caregivers who watched over Sid in his final days while in hospice, Robin Sims, Chelsea Wood, and Keisha Gardner.

The family will receive friends from 11:00 A.M. until 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Barrett Funeral Home.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at County Line Baptist Church Cemetery.

To share a memory or to leave an online condolence for the family, please visit www.barrettfh.com

Barrett Funeral Home of Cleveland | (706) 865-3101

Arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be announced soon by Barrett Funeral Home, Cleveland. 706-865-3101