Toni A. Craven

TONI A. CRAVEN

May 30, 1944 – June 5, 2025

Toni Craven, 81, of Fort Worth, Texas, passed away peacefully on Thursday June 5, 2025 at her home surrounded by daughter, Kathryn, and close family friends.

Born on May 30, 1944 in El Centro, California.  Toni was the daughter of the late Hugh Anthony Craven and Norma Ruth Craven (Benton) of Pennsylvania.  Toni was predeceased by her beloved younger brother Hugh Anthony Craven, Jr. of Pennsylvania on April 11, 2025 and her older brother, John Victor Hodges, Sr. of California; her grandparents Catherine and John Craven of Baltimore Maryland; Grace Tally Benton and Milton Roy (M.R.) Benton of California; and her great grandparents Jessie Ann Benton Fremont and John Charles Fremont of California.

Toni will be dearly missed by her daughter, Kathryn Ruth Craven, of Fort Worth, Texas; her niece Kimberly R. Hodges Gonzales and husband Steve V. Gonzales of California; nephew John V. Hodges Jr. and Richard B. Hodges of California, her nephew Kyle Craven of Pennsylvania, her grandnephews Drew Craven and Dane Craven of Pennsylvania, her niece Kelly Angelucci of Pennsylvania and grandnephews, Justin Benton and Connor Benton of Pennsylvania, and other extended family members, close friends, colleagues, and former students in the United States and around the world.

Toni enjoyed friendships with many circles of people in Fort Worth and had a rich private life.  Toni had dinner with her dearest friend Hattie Landman every Wednesday, usually at Luby’s since 1980 with the open invitation for anyone to join them, and we often did.  Toni shared Shabbat, Passover, and High Holy Days with Richard Allen and Cantor Sheri Allen, their many friends, particularly Shug and Ginny, a Holocaust survivor, and their three children.  Toni met regularly with her “catholic group” of close friends from which non-profit agencies emerged including the Warm Place from Peggy and Lee Bohme and the Baby Moses Project by Dr. John Richardson, just to name a couple founded or co-founded. Toni celebrated the work and lives of the Sisters of Saint Mary of Namur, Western Province joining in their masses, retreats, and educational events for the community. Toni advocated for justice and inclusion of those marginalized in society and the Church, participating in Voices of Renewal, a “Girls Night Out” group of close friends gathered to discuss current events and formulate response in the community. Toni enjoyed time with neighbors in “Ladies Night Out” and other HOA events. Toni enjoyed weekly water aerobics with her dear friend Robin Mayne where much laughter ensued.  Toni read fiction and nonfiction books daily, out loud with Judy Locke joined by close friends and family which often elicited lively discussions over coffee.  She taught Biblical Hebrew weekly at her dining room table with friends, most recently Clarice Peninger and Reyna Castelan. Toni had a routine of opening her home to host many former students, friends, and colleagues when they came to town. During her last week of life, Toni and Kathryn reflected on the many amazing people who sat at her table over the years. Toni loved going to musical concerts and art galleries with family and friends, including Christopher Thomas and those he brought along. Toni enjoyed spending time with Sisters of St. Mary of Namur (OLV) marveling at their generous contributions in education in the Fort Worth Diocese and African missions. Toni volunteered her time teaching ESL with Sister Rita Claire Davis, SSMN at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.  Summers included reading to the children at Como Community Center, a particular joy sharing her love of reading especially out loud.  Toni traveled to Italy and shared birthdays with longtime friend Rita Burns. Toni spent treasured time with Phyllis Trible in New York.  Toni went to churches for special occasions and ordinations of students with donned academic robe or stole. Toni visited her parents, brother Hugh Craven, and extended family in Pennsylvania. But mostly, Toni enjoyed a loving home life with her daughter, Kathryn and walking or sitting with her Maltese dogs: (infamous) George who attended retreats and shared long runs with Father Charlie Calabrese, Angel who sat steadfast at the feet of Dr. Heidi Baxter while she worked in Toni’s study on her dissertation, Anna who loved to garden, and Abi who generously brought Toni her bones and toys to share.

Toni engaged in collegial activities in the Tarrant County community, especially the Cattle Country Clerics (monthly Jewish and Christian clergy meetings), serving as President. Toni also served on the Board of Directors for the Tarrant Area Community of Churches, and the Women in Ministry (monthly clergy meetings). Toni was attendee, speaker, and held offices in Theta Phi, Southwest Commission on Religious Studies, Southwest Regional Concerns on Women in Studies in Religion, Society of Biblical Literature, and the Catholic Biblical Association.

Most know Toni as a popular speaker to church and community audiences. “Summer in the Cellar“ at First Presbyterian in Fort Worth, Advent and Lenten programs at St. Andrews Catholic Church, and numerous biblical studies at the Catholic Renewal Center, Our Lady of Victory, University Christian Church, South Hills Christian Church, Arlington Christian Church, United Methodist Church, Broadway Baptist Church, The Episcopal Church of Saint Thomas the Apostle, Beth-El Congregation, Southern Methodist University, Southwestern Baptist University, University of Dallas, TCU Catholic Community, TCU University Ministries, and many more throughout the United States in person and virtually. Most will remember Toni fondly as they come across the many lecture handouts always provided to follow along and for further personal study.

Toni’s own education took her first to Peabody Conservatory of Music to study performance piano. Toni then went on to the University of Maryland where she competed her B.A in 1971.    Toni studied Hebrew Bible with Dr. Phyllis Trible at Andover Newton Theological School and received her M.A. cum laude in 1974.  Toni was honored to receive acceptance in the coveted Doctoral studies program at Vanderbilt University receiving her Ph.D. in 1980 and wrote her Dissertation “ Artistry and Faith in the Book of Judith” under the direction of Dr. Walter Harrelson and published in Society of Biblical Literature, Dissertation Series 70, Scholars Press (1983).

Toni Craven began her teaching career in 1964-66 at St. Kathrine’s in Baltimore. MD.  Transitioned to Mercy Day School in Allentown, PA to 1966-70 to teach special education. In 1970-73, Toni taught at Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, Washington DC and Newton Centre, MA. Toni taught from 1971-74 at Bromley Cross Education Center, Boston, MA. During her years at Vanderbilt University in the Doctorate program Toni was Director of Religious Education at St. Philip Church with the Rev. John Henrick, diocesan priest, served as a Lecturer at Catholic Center, Nashville, TN, and worked as a Teaching Assistant for Professor James L. Crenshaw, Douglas Knight, and Walter Harrelson.  In 1994 Toni and her daughter, Kathryn Craven, started a non-profit with the Rev. Ismael Sanchez and Rev. Dr. Daisy Machado, Camino de Paz, to offer an English as a Second Language (ESL) and GED program to working Spanish speaking adults in the community to improve their employability and communication skills.  Recruited teachers from Brite Divinity School served as educators and worked in the day care provided.  The ESL/GED courses were held in local Christian Church Disciples of Christ community centers in the evenings.

Dr. Toni Craven came to Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University in 1980 called by M. Jack Suggs, Dean, becoming the first woman selected to fulltime faculty, first tenured woman, and first Roman Catholic hired to the Brite Faculty.  Toni served as Assistant Professor of Old Testament from 1980-85, became Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible 1985-91, and was a full professor in 1991. At Brite, Toni also served as the Interim Associate Dean 1997-98. Toni held the I. Wylie and Elizabeth M. Briscoe Chair of Hebrew Bible since 2003.  Toni’s recent rank was that of Professor Emerita 2012 to present.

During the many years at Brite, Toni served in key leadership positions in the school’s community relations and outreach to the wider society, including establishing faculty appointments and programs in Jewish Studies such as the TCU Gates of Chai Lecture series and in Roman Catholicism such as the Roman Catholic Lecture Series bringing Elie Wiesel, Morris Dees, Jr., Andrew Greely, Sr. Joan Chittister, O.S.B. and Sister Wendy Beckett, Dr. Mary Evelyn Tucker and Sister Helen Prejean with the generous funding from the Amon G. Carter Foundation and the enthusiastic support of Ruth Carter Stevenson, Sheila Johnson and Joan Richardson and numerous others. Toni offered key leadership in offering Brite’s first Ph.D. Program in Biblical Studies. At Brite, Toni enjoyed teaching, advising and mentoring students in the M. Div, M.T.S., Th.M., D. Min. and the Ph.D. programs.

Toni received many professional awards. She was granted the Page Fellowship, Andover Newton Theological School 1974.  Toni was awarded the Henry Beach Carre fellowship, Vanderbilt University, 1974-76.  A master teacher Toni won multiple school teaching awards from TCU such as the Texas Christian University’s Burlington Northern Foundation Faculty Achievement Award in 1986-87 and the Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1994. Additionally, the Southwest Commission on Religious Studies awarded her their John G. Gammie Distinguished Scholar Award in 2001. And the Society of Biblical Literature and the Committee on the Status of Women in the Profession awarded her their Outstanding Service in Mentoring Award in 2005. Upon her retirement, Toni’s dear friends, Paul Ray Jr. and Elizabeth Ray established an office in her honor.

Toni fostered among students and national faculty peers love of the language, rhetorical forms, and literature of the Hebrew scriptures. Her research and publications were ground-breaking on women in Biblical studies. Toni’s publications focus on the interface between gender and biblical literature related to women in Scripture, Psalms, Judith, and biblical texts related to ecology. Women In Scripture: A Dictionary of Named and Unnamed Women in the Hebrew Bible, Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books, and New Testament , eds. Carol Meyers, Toni Craven, and Ross Kraemer, William B. Eerdmans/Brill Publishing Company 2000 (2006 edition recommended); “Introduction, Notes, and Excurses on Psalms” in The NRSV Study Bible , Abington Press (2003); “Women as teachers of the Torah ,” Passion, Vitality, and Foment: The Dynamics of Second Temple of Judaism, by Students of Walter Harrelson, ed. Lamonte M Luker, Valley Forge, PA: Trinity Press International.

Toni Craven was a revisionist/ translator and writer of contextual footnotes in many different versions of the Bible for Books of the Old Testament and the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books.  She was groundbreaking in her rhetorical criticism and feminist hermeneutics.  Church Lectors and students appreciate her work in the Harper-Collins Bible Pronunciation Guide, Harper-Collins Publishers.  Toni will be remembered for her numerous scholarly publications and contributions to our understanding of Genesis, Exodus, Judith, Ezekiel, Daniel, Psalms, Women in Scripture, Isaiah, Ruth, Habakkuk, Ruth, Jonah , Esther, Hosea, Job, Wisdom literature, and her 2009 publication of Higher Education Reconceived: A Geography of Change co-authored by her dear friend Sherrie Reynolds, published by the TCU Press theories to improve adult learning. Toni would want to acknowledge a couple of student/friends whose skills in proofreading her manuscripts proved invaluable, Mary Colvin Hill and Rev. Dr. Susan Diamond. Toni’s publications of articles and essays are too many to enumerate. Google Toni Craven and look at and read her incredible prolific scholarship.

Toni, ever the scholar, continued her work since retiring in 2012.  Toni and Dr. Mary Jo Kaska worked on but did not finish an introductory book, Interpreting the Hebrew Bible and Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books revising Walter Harrelson’s 1965 Interpreting the Old Testament, originally published by Houghton Mifflin. Toni, with the help of Judy Locke, organized and reviewed the journals Alberta H. Lunger left for Toni to hold, read, and perhaps write Alberta’s life in ministry and her spirituality as an ordained woman minister in 1931 and co- pastor with her husband, Toni’s colleague at Brite, Harold Lunger (unfinished).  Toni was also very interested in writing on Jeremiah and read the unpublished manuscripts from the James Muilenburg Manuscript Collection, Special Collections, Princeton Theological Seminary Library as part of her study. James Muilenberg, a mentor to Walter Harrelson, had ideas ahead of his time that Toni wanted to review and bring some of the ideas forward in her writing (unfinished).

Toni Craven leaves a great legacy as a renowned scholar, greatly admired professor, and incomparably generous colleague.  She lives on in her exceptional publications, her former students rising themselves in ministry and academia, in those who knew her in their shared communities and of course her family, for whom she was so much more.  Toni taught and believed wholeheartedly that "We ALL are made in God's image" (Gen 1:27). To those close to her she added, "don't forget to look in the mirror. Be kind and generous in your words and deeds for yourself and for others. Remember in relationships, individually and communally, that "God is in the details," (Meinrad Craighead), be intentional."  What stands out above all else is her mantra-like statement about relationship with God and the character of God to the question, “Who is God?” Dr. Toni Craven offered a three-part answer: 1. God is one who is with us. 2. God hears our complaints and wills to deliver us. 3. God holds out to us a future of hope.  More than that was what she knew for sure from biblical texts, that “God is God.” Commitment to justice, love of scripture, and love of the Holy One was foundational to Toni Craven’s life. We are grateful to God for the gift of Toni Craven. As the Psalmist says to God, so we now pray what Toni taught us faithfully, “You, O God, have been our dwelling place in all generations” (Ps 90:1).

Services for Toni Craven will be in person JULY 8, 2025 at 2:00 P.M. at:

University Christian Church, Disciples of Christ,

2720 S. University Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76109.

(for those needing assisted listening on your phone download the free “Listen Everywhere: App)

Academics and Ministers are encouraged to process in Academic Robe or Stole

For those unable to participate in person the service will be live streamed

The link for the Live Stream: universitychristian.org/live/

The family requests that donations be given in lieu of flowers to the Sisters of Saint Mary of Namur, Western Province, 909 Shaw St., Fort Worth, TX 76110, Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University memorial and honoraria in name of Toni Craven, c/o Advancement, TCU Box 298130, Fort Worth, TX 76129 or www.brite.edu, Gill Children’s Services 555 Hemphill St., Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX 76104 or www.gillchildrens.org.

A private interment service will be held at Greenwood Memorial Park, 3100 White Settlement Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76107 at a later date determined by the family.

Kathryn Craven wishes to express her gratitude for the compassionate and loving assistance of Cindy Thompson friend and funeral director, Thompson’s Harveson and Cole Funeral Home & Crematory in Fort Worth Funeral Director, Roger Kersten, UCC’s event Coordinator, Pam Reeser and Rev. Dr. Russ Peterman, Senior Minister, and Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University President, Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady. A special thanks to Rev. Annell George McLawhorn of Snow Hill, NC, Rev. Dr. Susan Diamond of Florence, KY, and Cantor Sheri Allen of Fort Worth, TX, Dr. James O. Duke, loving support from our dear friend Diane Murray, and my many neighbors and friends surrounding me with love, food and meaningful conversations.