To learn more about sarcoma and how you can make a difference, we partner with the Sarcoma Foundation every year to honor Jim and so can you! Jim was very passionate about Interfaith Dental Clinic here in Nashville. You can make a difference in someone’s life by contacting them, and let them know you learned about them through remembrance of Jim, continuing to keep his name alive.
Dr. James Crafton was more than a founding dentist, he was the heart and steady hands that shaped the legacy of our practice. When Jim purchased Dr. Workman’s small practice in 1985, he began his journey in the basement of a White Bridge office with little more than grit, talent, and a deep belief in taking exceptional care of people. What grew from those humble beginnings became a standard of dentistry, mentorship, and integrity that still guides us today.
In 2011, Jim built a new office in Green Hills, marking a new chapter of growth for the practice he had poured himself into for decades. Dr. Jerry Hancock joined him there in 2009, relocating from Richard Jones Road. What began as a professional partnership quickly grew into a rare and genuine father–son bond. They practiced side-by-side until 2019, when Jim passed away after a courageous fight against angiosarcoma. Their friendship, respect for one another, and shared commitment to excellence still anchor the culture of our office.
Jim was an extraordinary clinician; highly skilled, endlessly curious, and deeply admired by colleagues across the dental community. His reputation was built not only on his technical mastery, but on the way he carried himself: steady, kind, hardworking, and fully dedicated to his patients. He set a bar for professionalism and compassion that the rest of us can only hope to match.
Even now, his presence is woven into everyday life here. We still quote his “Jim-isms,” laugh about the lessons he taught us, and feel him in the rhythms of the office, even in our newest space. And yes, we continue his legendary tradition of starting at 6:00 AM… somewhat begrudgingly (kidding… mostly). It’s a small tribute to a man who believed in showing up early, working hard, and taking care of people with his whole heart.
Dr. Crafton’s legacy lives on in every patient we treat, every standard we uphold, and every moment we choose to do things the right way. We are endlessly grateful for the foundation he built, and we honor him by continuing the work he loved so much.
