Beverly Ann Cross

Beverly Ann Cross, 79, of Little Rock died October 8, 2016. She was the daughter of Robert Edward and Opal Davis Cross. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Dick Cross, and nephew, David Cross. Miss Cross is survived by a sister, Mary Bob Chesler, of Del Mar, California, sister-in-law Virginia Calhoun Cross and nephew, Richard Cross. She is also survived by cousins Melda Adams Rice, of Jacksonville, Carl Jean Adams of Hot Springs Village, their offspring, and the offspring of the late Farrel Adams Henry of Little Rock, sister of Mrs. Rice and Mr. Adams. Grandparents were Dee and Molly Ford Cross of Morrilton and Will and Isabel Lykin Davis of Houston, Arkansas. Miss Cross attended Little Rock public schools, received an A.A. degree from William Woods Junior College for Women in Fulton, Missouri, and A.B. from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, and an M.S.W. degree from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Academic achievements included induction into Phi Theta Kappa and Alpha Kappa Delta honorary fraternities. She was a member of Delta Gamma social fraternity. Miss Cross was employed as assistant professor at the University Of Arkansas Graduate School Of Social Work in Little Rock, and served most of her professional life as supervisor of social work students and staff, and as a therapist. Miss Cross successfully trained and showed dogs in AKC conformation and obedience trials as long as she was physically able, enjoyed her canaries and humane society cats, the myriad of birds and wild creatures who dined on her porch at the Good Shepherd Ecumenical Retirement Center, and the yellow-naped amazon parrot who was her companion for 15 years. The last two and a half years of Miss Cross' life were spent at Briarwood Nursing and Rehab where she was surrounded by loving caregivers. Special thanks to Janet, who was her caregiver the duration of her stay, and all of the facility staff. She was a member of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to United Methodist Church, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Good Shepherd Ecumenical Retirement Center and the Little Rock Zoo. A memorial service celebrating Miss Cross' life will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, October 15th at Griffin Leggett Haley & Roth Funeral Home, 5800 W. 12th St. in Little Rock. Please sign on line register at www.griffinleggettresthills.com.