Obituary of Captain Richard M. Cross

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Captain Richard M. Cross, United States Navy, aged 89, went home to be with the Lord on April 4, 2023.  Richard was a loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and friend to so many. He loved so many fearlessly and wonderfully throughout his long and blessed life.

He was born the only child of Lois F. Cross on November 3, 1933, in Wilmore, Kentucky. Richard was a father to three children, Betsy Cross Griswold (Daryl), Michael S. Cross, who pre-deceased him in 2010, and Mary Alice Fleming, three grandchildren, Micheal I. Cross, Elizabeth Cross, and Ahna Fleming, two step grandchildren, Justin Kennedy (Jessica) and Phillip Sapp, and four great-grandchildren (Emma, Cayden, Riley and Micheal, Jr.) and many cousins. 

Richard was a 1950 graduate of Blakely Union High School in Blakely, Georgia, and a graduate of the University of Georgia. Captain Cross loved the United States Navy and served for 30 years both on active duty and in the reserves rising through the ranks from a seaman recruit to the rank of Captain. During his Navy career, he managed many high- profile assignments and public relations events, including during the Berlin crisis in 1961, the last major European politico-military incident of the Cold War, where he served in Germany as the spokesperson for the Navy during a turbulent time for the country. Captain Cross received a commendation for this service.  He also helped coordinate many assignments, including ordinates for personnel and combat ships in the Atlantic and the Pacific. When he was not involved in his Navy activities, he worked for many organizations training, and teaching management and leadership skills for many organizations in the southeastern United States. He ultimately retired from R.J. Reynolds.  Through it all he never failed to give God the credit for any achievements on his part.

Throughout his successful career, he never lost his love for southwest Georgia, and especially Early County, Georgia and Cedar Springs. He often said Cedar Springs was his spiritual home and he will be laid to rest there.  

A funeral service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 8, 2023, at the Pierce-Jefferson Funeral Services Kernersville Chapel, 213 West Mountain Street, Kernersville, North Carolina 27284 A visitation will be held immediately prior to the service from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Wounded Warriors Project (www.woundedwarriors.org) in memory of Captain Cross. Final interment will be in Cedar Springs, Georgia at a later date.

 Thank you. The family appreciates your prayers and kind words of support. 

Friends and family may offer online condolences at www.piercejeffersonfh.com