Mrs. Mary Arlene Clifford Cross, age 80, passed away Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at Beacon Place in Greensboro, NC.
The committal and interment will follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Greensboro, NC.
Mary Arlene (Clifton) Cross was born on September 13, 1944 to Lonnie Lee Clifton Sr. and Annie Brodie in Louisburg North Carolina. Lonnie and Annie moved their family to Cliffwood NJ where they attended Providence Baptist Church where she was baptized and gave her life to Christ.
Mary had her eyes and heart set on a young man named Frank W. Cross and on September 15th, 1962 they were married. Their first home was in Cliffwood NJ then they moved to their dream home in Red Bank New Jersey. To this union two children were born. Lisa LaRae Cross, August 29th, 1963 and Michael Darnell Cross April 18th, 1972.
Mary gained employment with HESS Corporation in Woodbridge New Jersey after completing a Secretarial Program with them. She then carried her secretarial skills to Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank New Jersey on August 24th, 1974. She was the Administrative Assistant for Mr. John Carroll who was the head of Environmental Services. She was promoted to Supervisor of Environmental Services in 1983 and supervised the department until she retired on May 6th, 2005 with 30 years of service. Mary thought she was going to enjoy retirement, but was offered another job (by word of mouth based off her excellent work ethics) at Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune NJ as an Administrative Assistant and she took it. She spent an additional ten years there and retired a second time in April of 2019. During these years of employment Mary worked on obtaining a college degree. It took some years, but she completed Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, New Jersey with an Associate in Arts in 1994. Then she kicked her feet up and was now officially enjoying retirement.
During these years Mary was very active in her other talents. She was a seamstress for a local group two of her brothers Larry Darnell Clifton and James Douglas Clifton belonged to “The X-PLOITTATIONS” she took their ideas for their wardrobe’s and brought them to life. Her and her best friend of more than 40 years Lillian S. Parrish were a two-woman sewing team. They brought out their sewing machines, patterns and material to their kitchens sewing outfits for the group and their children’s outfit’s as well. Mary could also knit and crochet. She knit her first born grandchild Dwayne W. Lodge II a hooded blanket to come home from the hospital in.
Mary was a member of the Elks IBPOE (Bates Lodge #220) Shrewsbury Avenue in Red Bank New Jersey.
Mary joined Calvary Baptist in Red Bank, New Jersey and brought to them again her secretarial skills and accounting skills serving as the Treasurer for the church as well as an Usher on the Usher Board.
Mary loved her family, she was a proud grandmother to her eight grandchildren. She was known to them as Grams and Grandma Mary. She was very involved in making family gatherings and holidays her priority, filling them with her love. She spent a lot of time with her younger brother James Douglas Clifton going on vacations, attending Broadway plays and just having a good time being together.
Mary was predeceased by her parents Lonnie L. Clifton Sr, and Annie B. Brodie and her brother Larry D. Clifton.
She leaves to cherish her memory: her children, Lisa LaRae Cross and Michael Darnell Cross, her grandchildren, Dwayne Wilson Lodge II (Fiancé Shanaya M. Bowser), Taylor LaRae Lodge, Jaylen Bradley, JaMiere Cross, Jenaya Cross, Jayani Cross and Jakai Cross; her great grandson, Naci Michael Lodge; great granddaughter, Shanaila Knox and husband Frank W. Cross; two brothers Lonnie Lee Clifton Jr. (Cladie Clifton) and James Douglas Clifton; niece, Alisha R. Hammery and husband Teko Hammary; nephews, Larry D. Cliton Jr., Lonnie Clifton III and Tyler Clifton. A host of great nieces and nephews, along with a host of dear friends she loved.
Mary Cross was a strong spirit that had a positive impact on everyone she crossed paths with. Her spirit will live on through us as we each find our own way to slowly walk through the pain of missing her. We love you Mommy, Grams,Grandma Mary, Aunt Lene, Aunt Mary, Bugs. You will TRULY BE MISSED.
Service by McLaurin-Harris
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