Mother Merle Ruth Scott Cranford was born April 3, 1927 in Cleveland, Tennessee to the late Edward and Carrie Scott. She was the youngest of five children. She attended Cleveland public Schools where she graduated in 1942 from College High School. Upon completion of studies at Bernice School of Cosmetology in Dayton, Ohio, she became a licensed cosmetologist and continued this career for thirty-five years.

   Mother Cranford, as she was affectionately called, married Elder Jesse Cranford, Jr. in 1952. To this union, God added nine  children—six sons and three daughters. In 1958, while living in San Francisco, California, Mother Cranford accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, and was filled with the Holy Ghost at Love Chapel Church of God in Christ. Her pastor was Superintendent T.L. Delaney who served under the late Bishop E.E. Hamilton, Jurisdictional Prelate, and the late Mother Mattie McGlothen, Supervisor of Women. Mother Cranford was passionate about ministry. Her early church work included serving as Church Secretary, Sunday School Teacher and Prayer Warrior.

   In 1971, she and Elder Cranford, Jr. moved to Detroit, Michigan where they began pastoral ministry as founders of Prayer Chapel Church of God in Christ. Mother Cranford loved to tell the story of how she and Elder Cranford—in immediate response to the call of the Lord—packed up their children and belongings and started their journey eastward. Despite suffering a major car accident by which someone perished and all of their furniture was damaged, they did not turn back. Knowing that they would have to start all over, they continued their pursuit in faith and obedience to God's leading.

   In 1972, the Prayer Chapel congregation became affiliated with the Great Lakes Jurisdiction under the leadership of the late Bishop C.L. Anderson, Jr., Jurisdictional Prelate, and the late Mother Hattie Hunt, Supervisor of Women. Mother Cranford worked faithfully by her husband's side modeling the biblical example of Priscilla and Aquilla (Acts 18; Romans 16:3-4). Members of Prayer Chapel Church knew her to be a woman of strength, courage and fervent prayer. It is said that she birthed out the ministry in prayer. Every weekday, she would go to the church alone to pray that souls would be added to the kingdom of God.

   Being totally committed to the work of God, Mother Cranford served faithfully at the local and district level as Sunday School Teacher, Youth Leader, General Church Secretary, Institute Teacher and Executive Committee Member. Her jurisdictional contributions include Platform Committee Member, Program Committee Member, Recording Secretary and Finance Committee Member.

   In January 1985, Mother Cranford was installed as the Jurisdictional Supervisor of the Department of Women of Great Lakes Michigan Jurisdiction—the second in its history. She served faithfully  under the leadership of the late Bishop C.L. Anderson, Jr., the late Bishop Walter E. Bogan, Sr. and Bishop Designate Clifford C. Dunlap until her demise.

   Highlights of her leadership include: the Hulda Committee, Ways and Means, District Superintendents'  Wives Unit, Outreach Ministry (to those imprisoned, and to the homeless), Missionary Training Institute, and and the establishment of the Hattie Hunt Memorial Choir. Her work at the national level includes Recording Secretary for the Young Women's Christian Council, and Advisory Board Member. In 2005, at the International Women's Convention, Mother Cranford received honorable mention for Red Card Delegates, and in 2006 she won Third Place Award.

   Mother Cranford was a persistent woman, always on the move and making her election sure. She spoke boldly about the sovereign power of God and His unfailing grace. Motivated by her love for God's people, and a genuine interest in advancing the ministry, she remained active in church work even during her final hours. Just a few days prior to her transistion, on the way to a District Meeting she asserted, "I'm going to keep doing the Lord's work right up until I die." That night, she stood before the congregation reminding them that everybody is somebody and told them, specifically, that she loved them.

   Mother Cranford entered the Church Triumphant on Saturday, August 5, 2006, at her home in Redford, Michigan. She was preceded in death by both her parents, her four siblings (Ray, Roy, Clarence and Lois), her husband of 47 years, Pastor Jesse Cranford, Jr. and two children (Ronald Benjamin and Ruth Denise). She leaves to cherish her memory five sons: Elder Larry Bernard Cranford (Betty), Deacon Carleton Scott Cranford (Cecilia), Elder Byron James Cranford (Kimberly), Elder Glenn Avery Cranford (MaDonna), and her pastor, Superintendent Jesse Cranford, III (Jacqueline); two daughters, Rita Darlene and Rosalyn Diedre. Her children regard her as the strongest person they know, male or female. Mother Cranford is also survived by 17 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, one brother-in-law, two sisters-in-law, a host of cousins, nephews, nieces (including a special niece—Mayor Brenda Lawrence of Southfield, Michigan), and a countless number of spiritual sons and daughters.

   The hallways of Prayer Chapel Church of God in Christ echo memories of Mother Merle Ruth Scott Cranford singing, "I love the Lord, and I won't take it back." Gone on to be with the Lord, she has left an indelible impression of her Prayer Chapel Church family, the Great Lakes First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction family, Michigan-Ontario Supervisors, as well as, the entire Church of God in Christ, Inc. Department of Women. She leaves a legacy of prayer and praise.