Black History Month: Honoring the life and leadership of Elder Gloria Cross
{Contributed photo/The Family of Elder Gloria Cross}
Originally published, April 21, 2021.
After a short and unexpected hospitalization, Elder Gloria Cross’s family announced that the well-known leader went on to be with her Creator on Sunday, April 17, 2021.
Elder Cross graduated from Rowan – Cabarrus Community College in 1991, where she received her diploma in nursing. For 15 years, she was employed at the W.G. “Bill” Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury, NC. “Nurse Cross,” which so many of her patients affectionately called her, worked extensively in the Mental Health Behavior Science Dept. with the PTSD program serving WWII, Korean conflict, Vietnam and Persian Gulf veterans. In 2013, she retired from the VA Medical Center Out-Patient Clinic in Winston-Salem.
According to a bio shared by the family, Cross began her ministry over 30 years ago under the leadership of Pastor Sam Puryear at Union Chapel Church. In 1985, she was ordained and licensed by the late Harvey Lanier, Pastor of New Canaan Baptist Church. Several months later, Minister Cross was ordained an Elder where she was the second woman in North Carolina to hold this title in the Seventh Day Adventist Church. She served for 16 years in the Adventist faith and as Head Elder for 10 years in Lexington at New Life Seventh Day Adventist Church on Cotton Grove Rd., under the South Atlantic Conference. Elder Cross was Overseer of On the Wings of a Dove Ministry located at 25 Union St., where she lovingly served for the past 19 years.
Cross had two children: daughter, Constance Cross and son, Frank Cross Jr., was grandmother of five and great grandmother of four. She worked in her community as a leader with adults and youth. She served as a 4-H counselor, CIS and as a therapeutic foster parent with Professional Parenting of Appalachian State University. A member of the NAACP Davidson County Branch, she served as president. Cross was a member of the HOPE Organization, Executive Board of Davidson County Community Action, Democratic Women of Davidson County, and Lexington Community Ministers’ Conference [LCMC].
According to family, “Elder Cross believed with all her heart and life experience that the shortest distance between two people was a smile.”
Daughter Constance Cross issued a statement on behalf of the family. “She was our mama. She provided a loving Christian home where she nurtured us from infancy to adulthood. Her imprint will forever be in our hearts. She was a strong supporter and she pushed us to believe in ourselves, to reach for the stars and always keep your focus.”
Cross was active in protests of the Confederate Monument on the Square in Lexington during the summer of 2020. {Contributed photo/Rhonda Duncan}
Reverend Kathy Watford, president of LCMC, met Cross more 20 years ago. She recalls her “always having a smile, always willing to help support.” When Watford took the helm of being the first female pastor to lead the group, she said, “Whenever we met, she always had a word of encouragement. ‘How are things going?’ Even if it was going bad. ‘Continue to trust God. Do what we are supposed to be doing.’”
Cross was active in protests of the Confederate Monument on the Square in Lexington this summer. {Contributed Photo/Rhonda Duncan}
The loss was met with an immediate outpouring from the local community. Cross was an active community advocate and had greatly influenced others with her example of servant leadership.
In an interview with Davidson Local, former chair of the Democratic Party, Tina Royal, said that Cross’s leadership style was unique. “Being able to work in the community with her and all her efforts of trying to unify our community. Just being around a knowledgeable person helped me to understand the importance of sharing knowledge. She had knowledge of all of the history. I learned a lot from her in just teaching me how to become a good leader when I led the democratic party.”
Ray Nance Howell, director of Cancer Services of Davidson County offered, “I am deeply saddened to hear of Gloria Cross’s passing. She was active in our support groups for cancer patients, and I got to witness firsthand how Gloria ministered to people. She was there just not for her own support, but to nurture and sustain others through their cancer journeys. However, her ministry didn't stop with our patients. She helped our agency by speaking on behalf of us about our services. She was always willing to share her story and how we helped her. She was helping others and helping us. She lived a life of service to others. She lived a life of service to our community. And we were just a small part of her life. I can't even begin to imagine her full impact.”
Those sentiments were echoed by Kassaundra Shanette Lockhart, Davidson Local Co-Founder. "I was privileged to get to know Ms. Gloria on a more intimate level when I began volunteering at Cancer Services of Davidson County. As a certified personal trainer and group exercise instructor, I held classes two days a month for clients of the nonprofit organization…It was an honor and a blessing to get to glean from her all these years. She will truly be missed!”
Her protégé and mentee Charles “Pic” Clark said stepping into the NAACP presidency role will be hard to fill. “I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t think I was ready for it, but she’s been grooming me for the past few years and telling me I can do it.” Clark said. This year Cross insisted on having a first, second and third vice presidents for the first time in the chapter’s history. Clark said that Cross gave him names of other NAACP leaders that would help from her hospital room noting that she was thinking about the work ahead, even in her last days.
In a tribute to Cross, Clark quoted James 1:12 NIV, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
He added, “Ms. Gloria faced many trials and she worked hard with every organization or committee she was on. She worked tirelessly with her church. She has received her crown. What a beautiful example for us all.”
