Obituaries – Their Stories Live On

Lula Delois Cross (née Moss), also known as “Lois”, was born on December 24, 1937 in Glen White, WV. She went to be with the Lord on January 16, 2021 after a battle with cancer. She was preceded in death by her husband James Cross, her parents, Angeline Morehead and John Morehead and Arthur Phipps, Jr.

Lula/Lois grew up in Lester, WV. She attended Stratton High School. She graduated from WV State College in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Prior to beginning her career in education, she worked as a phlebotomist at Cleveland Metropolitan Hospital in Cleveland, OH. After a few years, she returned to Lester and worked for the Raleigh County Board of Education. During her career in education, she taught at the Lester Head Start School, Lester Elementary School and Trap Hill Middle School. She loved her students. She also continued her education, earning a Masters degree in Education from the WV College of Graduate Studies. She retired from the Raleigh County Board of Education in 2000, with over 30 years of service.

Lula/Lois enjoyed being active in her church and her community. She was the corresponding clerk and historian of her home church, First Baptist Church of Lester. She was a member of the Winding Gulf Baptist Association in Glen White, WV where she served as co-chair of the finance committee. She was also a member of BEAUTY! (Black Educators Are United Totally – Yes!), a community service organization designed to counsel, inspire, and further educate young African American graduates to reach their full potential. She also enjoyed playing the lotto, “the numbers” and scratch-off tickets – which by the way, she had lots of luck (smile)!

No matter where she went, she would frequently run into her former students who always would hug and thank her for being their teacher. Her easy-going spirit also made it easy for people to come to her to talk, ask for advice or prayer about a situation they had. She was always ready to pray with and for people. She always listened with no judgement.

Her last few years were spent at her home in Lester, WV and in Beaver, WV at the Villages of Greystone. While at Greystone, she enjoyed reading, spending time with her neighbors, taking part in various community activities and weekly Bible study and, as no surprise, she made many friends.

Lula/Lois leaves behind her son, James “Freddie” and Kim Cross of Pennsylvania, her daughter Lisa Cross and Drake Burdette of Maryland, special niece Julie Moss of Ohio, her sister Victoria Adams of Ohio, her uncle George Moss of Oklahoma, her uncle Lloyd Woodruff of Beckley, WV and his family, brother-in-law and sister-in-law LeRoy and Melrose Cross of Ohio, her sister-in-law Helen Sandra Cook of Michigan, her half-brother Anthony Phipps, as well a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, loved ones and friends.

She was a loving mother, wife, daughter, aunt, niece, cousin, friend, and a woman of strong faith. She loved people and people loved her. She was always someone people could come to for good conversation, friendship, guidance, advice, and prayers. Her calming presence and pleasant demeanor will be treasured and sorely missed. Her spirit and memory will live on forever.

We all love you so much!

Private funeral service will be 12:00Noon Saturday, January 30, 2021 at the Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, 748 S. Fayette St., Beckley with Rev. Walter E. Clay and Bishop Fred T. Simms officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Prosperity.

Friends, while wearing gloves and masks and observing social distancing may call one hour prior to the service.

Email condolences to ritchie-johnson@suddenlinkmail.com,

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.