The Virginian-Pilot

Submitted by Bill Sinclair

March 18, 1999

JOSEPH M. CROSS

Joseph Milton Cross, 78, died MARCH 17, 1999.

A native of Suffolk, he was the son of the late Evelyn Hurff and Marion Austin "Mac" Cross Sr. A lifelong member of the Main Street United Methodist Church, he was a member of the James L. McLemore Sunday School Class, a former superintendent of the Sunday School and a past member of the Official Board. He was a past president of the Suffolk Kiwanis Club and was instrumental in creating the Suffolk Kiwanis Endowment Fund. A graduate of Virginia Tech, Class of 44, he served as a first lieutenant, U.S. Army, in the Pacific before returning to Suffolk to join Nansemond Grocery Co., a family business. He was a retired manufacturer's representative for Cross Sales & Engineering and Parker Hannifin Co.

Survivers include his wife, Ella Mary (Ashburn) Cross; a daughter, Sarah (Cross) Eyre and her husband, James T. Eyre, of Richmond; a son Joseph M. Cros Jr. and his wife, Sallie H. Cross, of Williamsburg; grandchildren, Kathleen Elizabeth Eyre, Sally Beathwaite Eyre, Susan Rebecca Cross and Joseph Harter Cross; brothers, Marion Austin Cross Jr. of Suffolk, Wilbur Rawls Cross of Richmond, J. Frank Cross of Suffolk,Emily Cross of Franklin and Mary Evelyn (Cross) Hayes of Fayetteville,N.C.

A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday at Main Street United Methodist Church by the Rev. Dr. Alan R. Felumlee The family will receive friends at the home Memorial donations may be made to the Main Street United Methodist Church Endowment Fund, 202 N. Main St., Suffolk, Va. 23434. R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home is handling arrangements.