Mrs. Freda Jewell Dillard Cronic, the owner of Cronic Chevrolet, Buick GMC, Cronic Nissan and Cronic Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM, age 83 of Griffin, passed away Sunday, October 7, 2012 at Emory Midtown Hospital.
Mrs. Cronic was a native of Atlanta, born on January 29, 1929, the only child of the late Ophelia Martha Chancey and Fred Dillard. She had lived in Griffin since 1975 when she and her late husband, J.A. Cronic moved here and opened Cronic Chevrolet. The Cronics were married for 56 years before his death in 2003. In addition to helping her husband build one of the largest automotive groups between Atlanta and Macon, Mrs. Cronic was a licensed insurance agent.
She was a graduate of Commercial High School in Atlanta and also of several schools operated over the years by General Motors for its dealers. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Griffin and the Georgia Automobile Dealers Association. She formerly was a member of the Marie Fort Garden Club and was honorary member of the Iris Charter Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association.
In addition to being the bookkeeper for Cronic Chevrolet during its formative years in Griffin, Mrs. Cronic raised two daughters. She loved her family and enjoyed being hostess for family dinners. One of Mrs. Cronic’s favorite recipes was a Gourmet Spinach Salad with a Sweet and Sour Dressing and was selected to appear in Pure and Simple, the first Neiman Marcus Christmas cookbook, published in 1991. More than 2,000 recipes were submitted before the judges reduced that number to 700 recipes which they prepared and tasted before selecting the ones to be included in the cookbook. During the observance of Griffin’s 150th anniversary, Mrs. Cronic’s recipe for a “Festive Cheese Ball” was included in the Celebration Cookbook. Mrs. Cronic was featured in the Griffin Daily News series “Cook of the Week” on January 13, 1993.
Beyond work and family, one of Mrs. Cronic’s greatest pleasures was gardening. She particularly liked working in the beds of her brick-walled patio connected to the sunroom of her home.
Mrs. Cronic is survived by her daughters, Wanda Cronic Howell and her husband, Lee, Linda Cronic Ridley and her husband, Gary; five grandchildren, Tina Thompson, Nicole Selph, Jessica Howell, Jade Ridley, Destiny Ridley; several cousins and other relatives; Sissy Carroll, a special friend and devoted caregiver.
Visitation for Mrs. Freda Cronic will be held Wednesday, October 10, 2012 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 11, 2012 at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Griffin. Dr. Bruce Morgan and Dr. Bill Hardee will officiate. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery. Mrs. Cronic will lie-in-state for an hour prior to the services at the church.
Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, 1891 West McIntosh Road, Griffin is in charge of arrangements. www.conner-westburyfuneralhome.com.
