Mildred Olean Kelly Crosby

Mildred Olean Kelley Crosby was born in Alabama on February 9, 1929. She was the only child of her mother, Lenora, when Lenora was age 16. Because of this, Mildred and Lenora were very close over the years and were more like sisters than mother and daughter. Her mother, Lenora, had 4 brothers close to Mildred's age, so they were more like brothers to her than uncles. They worked together picking cotton and remained close in their adult years. Mildred attended her elementary school years in Alabama. Lenora moved to Florida when Mildred wasa teenager. It was there that Mildred met an Army man named Melvin Crosby who was from Massachusetts and was stationed at Drew Park Field Army base in Tampa, Florida. They got married on Veteran's Day, November 11, 1944, when Mildred was only 15. Mildred moved to Massachusetts to be with Melvin's family when he was sent overseas to WWII and Korea. Mildred gave birth to her first son, Steve, when she was 16. The couple's second son, Ronald, was born one month before Mildred turned 19. Being the wife of a career Army man meant moving and living in many places besides Framingham, Massachusetts where Melvin was from. Some of the other places they lived are El Paso, Texas, Disputana, Virginia, Augusta, Georgia, France, and back to Tampa a coupleof times. When they lived in Virginia, Mildred worked at J.M. Fields Department store. After Melvin retired from the Army, they bought a house a couple of houses down from her mother. Mildred was a good cook of southern food. During their retirement years, the couple was not idle. They sold plants and clothes at flea markets and took care of several elderly ladies in their home. Melvin and Mildred also enjoyed their grandchildren & their dogs. Steve's children lived in Georga and Ron's children lived next door. Mildred was very helpful to her mother until her mother died at age 99 in 2011. Melvin had died in 2006. After her son, Steve, died who was living with her, Mildred went to live with her granddaughter, April Glaze, in South Carolina. After an injury, Mildred lived in a nursing home in Saluda, SC, where she died Thurs, September 21. 2023, at age 94 & 7 months. Mildred's SC family called her Mawmaw and her Florida family called her Merna. Mildred is survived by her son, Ronald Crosby and wife, Ede, grandson, RC Crosby & wife, Brittney, grandson, Nathan Crosby, granddaughter April Glaze & husband Keevin, granddaughter Stepanie Johnson (Jasondeceased), grandson, Steven Crosby & wife, Thara; great- grandchildren: AC Crosby, Trace Crosby, Andrew Crosby, Kailey Crosby, Samantha Stoume, DrewWhitaker, Keely Johnson, Alyssa Johnson, Jay Johnson, Chase Snead, Harrison Crosby, Easton Crosby, Braelynn Crosby, Walker Crosby, Sabrina Glaze; great- great- grandchildren, Logan Whitaker, Bella Whitaker, Sadie Stoume, Bryson Hunter, Nova Gillian, 2 nephews, 1 niece, and her Uncle William Chavis.