Dorothy Huffman Cross, 98, died Wednesday June 15th at The Carriage Club of Charlotte, NC. Mrs. Cross was born March 21, 1918 in Live Oak, Florida to the late Charles Palmer and Ruth Simonton Huffman. She graduated from Suwannee High School and Tift College (now Mercer University) in Macon, Georgia. While in graduate school at the University of Florida, she met and married her husband, James Emory 'Red' Cross and they were lifelong partners for 63 years. Mrs. Cross had a very busy and colorful career. She was well known as an inspiring teacher, who related beautifully with children regardless of their background or ability. Her teaching career spanned 30 years, having spent the last years at Westwood Middle School in Gainesville, Florida. She was chosen Teacher of the Year in 1976 and honored by a former student with a lovely annual award, given to the most outstanding math student. Mrs. Cross touched the hearts of all who knew her and she will always be remembered for her incredible lust for life. She had a gift for making everyone who entered her home feel welcome. She had a contagious laugh, a positive attitude and a smile that lit up the room. Mrs. Cross loved her family and she was a lifelong partner to her husband, as he served in the Florida legislature and later as an Alachua County judge.

Mrs. Cross was preceded in death by her husband, The Honorable J. Emory Cross and a daughter, Betty Jean. She is survived by a daughter, Gayle and her husband, Richard Giannini of Charlotte, NC and a son, Emory and his wife, Shirley Cross of Atlanta, GA. She prided herself in being the 'only mammy left in the South' and was a wonderful grandmother to six girls, who gave her eleven great-grand children.

A 'Celebration of Life' will be held at The Carriage Club on Saturday, July 9th from 2pm to 4pm. A graveside service will be held in Live Oak, FL at the Huffman Family Plot on Saturday, July 23rd at 11 am.



Sister - Charlotte Bruce Memorial # 82837549
Sister - Carolyn Cannon Memorial # 82837416