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- Published in the Decatur Daily on 6/7/2006. Funeral for Melba Black Cross, 85, of Decatur will be today, June 7, 2006, at 11 a.m. at Courtland United Methodist Church with the Rev. A.G. "Buddy" Simmons, the Rev. David Nelson and the Rev. Scotty Letson officiating and Roselawn Funeral Home directing. Burial will be in Courtland City Cemetery. Visitation will be today from 10 to 11 a.m. at the church. Mrs. Cross, who died Monday, June 5, 2006, at her residence, was born Sept. 22, 1920, in Lawrence County to Hosea Black and Martha Latham Black. She taught school in Lawrence County for 36 years. She was a member of Central United Methodist Church and a member of United Methodist Women. She was also a member of United Daughters of the Confederacy, Friends of the Library, AEA, NEA, Lawrence County Teachers Association and Kappa Kappa Iota. Mrs. Cross was a longtime volunteer for Decatur General Hospital. She was preceded in death by one sister, Annie Lee Martin and husband, Rush; one brother, Taylor Black and wife, Eula; and her parents. Survivors include her husband, Roland Cross; one niece, Martha Martin of Decatur; one great-niece, Becky Spivey and her husband, Mark, of Decatur; one great nephew, Greg Hill of Decatur; and after years of loving care, Jane Russell, Connie Pettey, Wanda Jones, Christy Jacobs, Tammy McWhorter and Linda Foreman, have blended into the family. Pallbearers will be Mark Spivey, Greg Hill, Harold Cross, Waylon Cross, Roger Hill and Phillip Cross. ********************************************************************** ************************** Melba Black Cross 1920 - I was born and reared in Landersville, Alabama. God has blessed my life. I recall a wonderful childhood with an indulgent family aid caring relatives and friends. I am thankful for a Christian heritage that influenced my decisions to become a Christian at the age of 12. I am a graduate of Lawrence County High School and of Florence State Teachers College. I was a teacher in Lawrence County for 36 years (in four different schools), upper elementary and junior high. I married Roland Cross, a Christian, a southern gentleman, of farming heritage. After serving in WWII he provided for us well by cotton farming and cattle. He was judged an excellent farmer by the county agent, fellow farmers, ginners and buyers. His interests are: hunting, fishing, travel and people (he is an avid advocator of escorted bus tours, we’ve been in every state save Alaska and Hawaii, every providence of Canada save Yukon and NWT from Laredo, Texas via Mexico City to Acapulco. He’s a member of Alabama Farm Bureau, Lawrence County Cotton Committee, Cattlemen’s Association and New Hope Baptist Church. We have had the pleasure of living in four houses that we planned and had built. (in Order) Springwood on Spring Creek Road, north of Courtland on a lot bought from Lynn Cross (brother). Lakewood a summer home on Smith Lake, Winston County. Pinewood built on the farm we bought on South Pike in Courtland and Idlepoint (present home) built on a lot in Point Mallard Estates in Decatur joining Roger and Martha’s lot. We prefer the farm. The country side is so beautiful, however, at our age we think it best to live in Decatur. We still own the farm and go there often in the fall. It is valley land extending to wooded foothills that show gorgeous fall color alone with the daily splendor of the sunsets. Through the years I’ve reaped the rewards of being an affiliate of various organizations: United Methodist Women Lawrence County Teachers Alabama Educational Association National Educational Association Kappa Kappa Iota, Beta Conclave United Daughters of the Confederacy, Alabama, Wheeler Chapter Decatur Concert Association Embroiders Guild, Cotton Valley Chapter Friends of the Library Valley Garden Club Decatur General Hospital Volunteers Cowbells of Lawrence County
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1920 - 2006 (85 years)
