A celebration of the life of Crystal E. Prioleau will occur on
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Viewing 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Service at 11:00 a.m.
Wood Funeral Home
5537-39 W. Girard Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131
Interment: Private
Life Story
Crystal Elmira Prioleau began her journey of life on May 13, 1954, in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, born to the late William L. Prioleau and Isabelle Williams Prioleau. Crystal was
the oldest child born to this union.
Crystal received her education attending the Philadelphia Public Schools, graduating from
West Philadelphia High School in the Class of 1971. After High School, she followed her dream
of skating in the Roller Darby, suiting up for various teams: the Philadelphia Warriors, the Texas
Outlaws, the Baltimore Bobcats, and the New York Bombers. Crystal traveled all over the United
States and abroad following her dream.
After skating, she moved back to Philadelphia and worked various jobs, even dabbling in
entrepreneurship when she opened a flower shop with her friend, Phylestine (Phyl) Aires. Later,
she moved to sunny Florida and lived there for over 20 years, working jobs at Disney World,
Mears Transportation, and lastly culinary training to become a Chef at the Loews Hotel there.
After the passing of her Mother, she returned home and transferred to the Loews Hotel in
Philadelphia. She later transitioned to work as a Care Aid for special needs clients, which she
found very rewarding. Crystal had a helpful spirit, as evidenced by the work she did with her
brother, Tyrone, taking seniors to the movies monthly.
Crystal loved family, entertaining, and attending family functions. Despite not having
children of her own, she maintained very close relationships with her nieces, Trina, and Tamika.
Trina became her daughter from another mother and the mother-daughter roles eventually
switched. Crystal depended upon Trina for many of her daily living needs. They shared an
undeniable bond. She also enjoyed spending time with her niece, Keema, her husband, BO, and
grandniece, Jarra.
She was an avid sports enthusiast and could always be found watching various sporting
events and commendations shows. You would be hard-pressed to find a sport Crystal did not like!
She was an optimist and always saw the glass half full. Crystal was always the life of the
party. She enjoyed life, socializing and interacting with people. She maintained enduring
friendships with Jeffrey Hart and Gwen Maple (who affectionately called her Auntie). These
bonds were like that of extended family.
God called Crystal home suddenly on April 15, 2024, just over a month shy of her 70th
Birthday. She was looking eagerly forward to completing physical rehabilitation and celebrating
the “Big 7-0,” but God had other plans and called Crystal to come on home to rest.
She leaves to cherish her memory: her brother, Tyrone (Rhonda) Reed; her sister, Miriam
(Clay) Prioleau-Moore; her nephews and nieces: Tyrone, Tangela, Keema (Derrick), Tiona,
Tamika, Trina, and Morgan; her many grandnieces and grandnephews; her aunts and uncle, Aisha
Faye, Lurene Prioleau, Clarence and Bertha Richardson; her lifelong friends, Phyl Aires, Jeffrey
Hart and Gwen Maple; and a host of cousins and friends.
