Audrey Frances Cross

Audrey Frances Cross (Gatewood) passed away on Sunday, November 28, 2021, at her home in Lansing, MI. She was born January 8, 1932, in Chicago, IL and the only child of Ralph and Lethia Gatewood. Audrey is survived by her daughters Felicia Cross and Regina Cross, brother-in-law Larry Cross, sister-in-law Fay Cross, nephews Bobby and Rich Cross, niece Sheri Cross and special nieces and nephews Dianna Cross Toran, Darlene Cross, Danny Cross, Latese Toran, Jamin Toran and Nicholas Cross. She was preceded in death by her parents, grandmother Flora Johnson, brother Ralph Gatewood, Jr., former husband Donald L. Cross, aunt Hazel Hillard (Leroy), cousin Steven Steverson, brother in-laws Robert Cross and Richard Cross, and sister-in-law Barbara Cross.

As a child she attended Saint Edmonds Church in Chicago and was active in the choir. Later she attended DuSable High School in Chicago and moved to the Lansing area in 1949 to attend Michigan State University, known then as Michigan State College. While at Michigan State, she participated in modern dance and served as the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity queen of the Lamba Chi “Junior 500” pushcart derby in 1953. She graduated in 1953 with a bachelor’s degree in Social Science. After graduation she became a member of the graduate chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

Audrey made many lifelong friends while attending MSU which prompted her to stay in the East Lansing area. While she enjoyed living in the Lansing area, her love for her hometown of Chicago remained and she would go back often to visit family and her childhood friends.

After starting her family, Audrey returned to school and received a master’s degree from Western Michigan University in Library Science. She worked for the Lansing School District, specifically Everett High School, as the Head Librarian until retiring in 1994.

Audrey had a wide range of interests that included travel to many countries, geography, gardening, do-it-yourself home repairs, and Middle Eastern dance. She performed as Zia and traveled with the Habibi Dancers in Lansing for many years. She was an avid Bridge player, playing at the Lett’s center in Lansing with friends. She often hosted Bridge games at her home and often commented how it was the best and most challenging card game to play. Her love of reading and the written word was a big part of who she was, and her collection of books covered subjects from all aspects of the world. Some of the amazing feats she accomplished during her life were climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, sailing the Caribbean, and becoming a middle eastern dancer later in life.

In 1994 she purchased a cottage in northern Michigan and would spend many summers fixing it up and relaxing together with her daughters, family, and friends in the area.

Her special friends throughout her life were Yvonne Cofer, Narcisa “Sissy” Roberts, Margo Evans, Helen Cross, Shirley Lewis, Sue Lewis, Margaret Lewis, Rose Cross, Avery Smith, Margaret Bucklin, Ron and Norene Flinn and her fellow bridge partners.

Audrey was a fiercely independent and intelligent person, who stood up for what she believed and never backed down from a challenge. She truly was one-of-a-kind and will be dearly missed by her daughters and all who knew her.

Services will be held privately.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.greastlansing.com for the Cross family.