Childcare has always been in Elisabeth Crawford ’ s blood . Her parents , Sunny and Mildred Wilson , opened her family business Wonderland Child Care in their home and have been serving Moultrie for over 40 years .
Crawford is a Moultrie native and has worked at the daycare center since she was 16 years old . She graduated high school in 1989 and later graduated from Moultrie Technical College with a nursing degree .
“ She told my dad , ‘ I want the biggest childcare center in
Colquitt County ,’” Crawford said . “ He bought a piece of land almost right behind my home and built a huge childcare center .”
When the Wilsons opened their home for business , the daycare center was so full that they couldn ’ t hold any more children . Crawford was inspired to continue the family business after witnessing her mother ’ s passion and selfless spirit for childcare .
“ We ’ ve always been a center that felt like family . It ’ s just something that ’ s always made me happy because it was a place where you could serve our community , children and the families ,” she said .
“ I love being able to meet a need and to make life easier and happier for others , that ’ s probably why I love childcare because it ’ s the simplest things that make a child happy and feel loved , and when your child is safe , happy and loved , parents are happy and lives are made easier .”
Since working with the Wonderland Child Care center , Crawford says her home has always been packed with children . She operates the center with her husband of 30 years Wayne Crawford . Wayne is a retired school bus driver for the Colquitt County School District and loves helping the children .
OPPOSITE : Pictured standing from left is the Crawford Family including Petra , Bella , Isabella , Beth , Wayne , Lois , Makayli , Chloe , Mike and Selena Crawford . Missing from the photo are Mama Mildred Wilson and Mackenzi and Melissa Crawford . ABOVE : The Crawford Family is the epitome of a found family . The family patriarch and matriarch are Wayne and Beth Crawford , pictured second and third on the back row , along with Beth ’ s mother Mildred Wilson , pictured on right of the back row . The Crawfords ’ family includes their granddaughter , Bella , pictured on the rear row beside Beth , and children Mike and Makayli , pictured on the rear row , as well as their adopted children , pictured from left on the front row , Lois , Chloe , Petra , Isabella and Selena . Not pictured is their deceased daughter Mackenzi , who is Bella ’ s mother , and another daughter , Melissa .
MAY 2023 MoultrieScene 17