Annie G. Crosby

Mrs. Annie G. Crosby, age 84, of 234 Estelle Road, Gaffney, passed away Thursday, January 13th, in her home.

The life of Mrs. Annie Grace Watkins Crosby began on a cool January day in 1937.  She was the only child born to the late Hilliard Watkins and the late Lorene Wallace Watkins.  Her life was truly blessed and favored, she was doted on by her parents, and was especially cared for by her grandparents Mr. Jake and Mrs. Eliza McKinney Wallace and her paternal grandmother Mrs. Sarah Jane Watkins Jefferies.  Growing up Annie Grace spent much of her youth with her extended family members, which included several of her special Aunts and Uncles.  She always loved spending her summers in the Suck Creek community with her Grandma Jane and all her Watkins cousins.  Throughout her life Annie’s parents, grandparents held special places in her heart and she often reflected on lessons they taught her. 

Annie Grace was a good student and loved her Granard years.  She made many friendships at Granard, many of her school mates were life-long friends particularly those from the Class of 1955.  One of those life-long friends, Mrs. Peggy Tate Allen introduced Annie to her neighbor Willie Crosby in 1952.  Upon graduating from the historic Granard High School, Class of 1955, Annie decided she would like a career of helping those in need, so she aimed her career goal on becoming a nurse.  She studied nursing in Columbia, SC then she transferred to the Essex Community Vocation School  in New Jersey where her mother had relocated.  Finishing nursing school in 1959 she began her career of nursing at Beth Israel Hospital.  In 1958, Willie asked Annie to marry him.  They wed on September 5, 1959.  As Willie’s Army career moved him, Annie and their expanding family moved also.  When Willie’s service time took him to Vietnam, he decided to move Annie and their boys back to Gaffney.  Mrs. Crosby always dedicated herself to her family, and if you saw Annie Grace she would always have her boys with her as she traveled here and there. 

In the seventies Annie started a second career within the Cherokee County School District.  She worked for 22 years in the school system as a teachers’ assistant.  Mrs. Crosby always had a gift of working not only with the students assigned to her but any student that needed a friend, some comfort, or just some assistance.  During her long career within the school system Mrs. Crosby worked the majority of her years at Luther Vaughan Elementary, but she also worked at Alma, B.D. Lee, Central, Corinth, Goucher, and at Blacksburg Elementary.  Mrs. Crosby face became very familiar at the schools she worked.  She loved her students and the feeling was mutual.

Mrs. Crosby joined her mother’s family at the Metropolitan AME Zion Church at the age of 12.   Mrs. Crosby loved Metropolitan and her Church family loved her back.  She served tirelessly in various capacities at the Church.  Mrs. Crosby served with her mother, and Aunt Mino Smith on the Deaconess Board; she served as the Church Financial Sectary, a Church Steward, class leader, and in any other duties that she was asked to perform.  Mrs. Crosby served as the Mother of Church for the last several years.  She loved to give encouragement and love to her church family, and the church gave it right back to her.  Mrs. Crosby L-O-V-E-D Metropolitan.

Mrs. Crosby was a dedicated and loving wife, mother, and grandmother.  She was a protective mother but knew when her children and grandchildren needed a good push.  Mrs. Crosby did not mind giving her opinions to her children and wanted them to be happy, successful and productive citizens.  So much more could be written but there could never be enough time and paper to tell it all.  We will always cherish and LOVE her and she will continue to live on within our hearts until we her meet again. 

Mrs. Crosby was proceeded in death by her parents, one son Melvin L. Crosby.  She leaves cherished memories behind with her devoted husband of 62 years, Willie J. Crosby, sons:  Wallace (Tony) A. Crosby, daughter-in-law Dessina Crosby, Stanley E. Crosby, and David S. Crosby.  5 grandchildren:  Antron L. Crosby, Melvin L. Crosby, Dominique S, Crosby, Quinton Leach and Angel N. Crosby; and 9 great-grandchildren.  She also leaves a special cousin Brenda Dawkins (Ulysses); 2 brother-in-laws:  Gordon Crosby (Dorothy), Vincent Crosby (Jane); 3 sister-in-laws:  Elaine White, Carrie Foster (Joe), Judy Belcher.  Mrs. Crosby also leaves behind a loving church family, several cousins, friends, and good neighbors.

Funeral Service will be Wednesday, 3:00 p.m., in Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church with The Rev. Marcus King officiating.  Interment will follow in Frederick Memorial Gardens. She may be viewed Tuesday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., in The Gilmore Mortuary.