William Cross

A Celebration of Life

William Cross
October 4, 1948 - March 14, 2023

✞ Rest In Peace ✞

A boy is born in hard time Mississippi on October 4, 1948. It is post-WWII America, a time of great hope and the onset of global change. Surrounded by only four walls, he is one of 16 siblings loved and nurtured by his parents to ensure their health and keep them headed in the right direction. His father, K. P. Cross,
was a master cotton grader and liaison to the Mississippi Delta Bluesman, a group of agricultural tradesmen that migrated from the plantations of his hometown in Edwards, Mississippi in the hill country of Hines County, MS. KP, as the bluesmen affectionately called him, would raise up William and his siblings in the
personal discipline and work ethic necessary to survive during the decades prior to the birth of the civil rights era in America. However, It was the courage and wisdom of his mother, the lovely and astute Mrs. Henrietta Lyles-Cross, that he later confessed, “IT WAS ALL MA” who played the major role in building the
foundation that led to a remarkable life accomplishment for William and the others.

He was born in the family home of 1027 Johnson Avenue in Cleveland, MS, and as it was with his siblings,William was delivered in the home with the assistance of a midwife. The youngest of 12 brothers, he grew to love, honor, and respect his four sisters who taught him how to be mentally tough. He often
spoke of their provocation, “STOP LETTING YOUR BROTHERS PICK ON YOU!”. William went on to graduate from East Side High School in Cleveland in 1966, achieving status and recognition as Class President and Salutatorian. 

Born into material poverty, he did not have to look far for motivation and inspiration as he observed the successes of his brothers that he idolized. By the tender age of seven, little Will lived through several events “Down in The Delta” that would expand his curiosity and encourage him to excel. Three of these
events included:
~ May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered the unanimous ruling in the landmark civil rights case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, which stated that State-sanctioned segregation of public schools was a violation of the 14th amendment and was therefore unconstitutional. Will Cross was five years old at the time of the historic decision.
~ August 28, 1955, in Money, Mississippi, ~38 miles from the Cross family home in Cleveland, a 14-year old boy in town from Chicago named Emmett Till entered Bryant’s Grocery and Meat Market and altered the course of American history. Will Cross was six years old at the time of said event.
~ 95 days later, on December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks attended a rally at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama to hear Mound Bayou, Mississippi activist Dr. T. R. M. Howard speak about Till. When asked years later why she refused to move to the back of the bus, Rosa Parks replied, “I thought of Emmett Till and I couldn’t go back.” Will Cross was seven years old at the time.

As it is often said, “The rest is history” … and a most illustrious history it was. The highlights of William’s achievements touched every facet of life. Upon graduation from High School, he was presented with a Tuskegee Scholarship, recruited to Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical & Normal College (AM&N) in Pine Bluff (now University of Arkansas) on a full athletic scholarship for Baseball and was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with Magna Cum Laude academic honors and selection as a National Merit Scholar. Mr. Cross continued his scholarly discipline throughout his life.

Professionally, William had an illustrious career in Systems Engineering, Manufacturing, Division Controller, Computer Programming, Marketing and Consulting with noteworthy organizations that included: IBM, Baxter Healthcare, Sonicraft, Inc. and Construction Control Services Corp. During his final 10 years of his 50-year employment career, he served as a freelance Consultant in Computers and Manufacturing where he provided computer software support to several small churches, small business owners and veteran organizations.

William also excelled in the Military discipline to include: Distinguished Military ROTC Graduate, University of Arkansas. He was then commissioned as the first-ever African American Officer from the State of Mississippi, ultimately securing the rank of Captain in the Mississippi State Army National Guard.
Mr. Cross’s professional and civic affiliations included: the American Management Association (AMA); Reserve Officers Association; American Legion Post 39 (Adjutant / Post Secretary; George N. Althouse Memorial Association, Inc. (Secretary); and Bethlehem Baptist Church. He also achieved the highest honor
awarded by the Boy Scouts of America, Eagle Scout. Will leaves a large family and community to cherish his memories that includes: one sister, Alice M. Gandy (Arlington, TX); Children: Byron Cross (Atlanta, GA), Amelda Cross (Atlanta, GA), Kimberly Cross-Ramsey (Alonzo) (Valdosta, GA), Jonathan Cross (Sherrye) (Memphis, TN), Granddaughter, Ashley Cross-Anderson (Ramone) (Tallahassee, FL), Grandsons Mikel Fields (Atlanta, GA) and Malik Fields
(Indianapolis, IN). Great-grandchildren include: Nolan, Samuel, Jase and Riley Anderson (Tallahassee,FL), and Israel Fields (Indianapolis, IN).

He was preceded in death by twelve brothers (K.P. Jr, Lee, Earl, Wardell, Freddie, Othello, Audley, Clyde, Tommie C, Edward, Bob and Donald C. Reed) and three sisters, Yvonne Cross-Hannah, Mary Lee Dillard and Mary Nans Harris-Benton. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.