Virginia Portis Cross

Virginia Portis Cross, 100, of Lepanto, Arkansas departed this life on Sunday, June 3, 2018 at her home. She was born on October 10, 1917 to D.F. Sr and Agnes Mays Portis. Virginia attended Gulf Park School for girls in Gulfport, Mississippi and graduated from The Hutchison School in Memphis, Tennessee in 1935. She married Hi Cross in August of 1936 and they raised their family in Lepanto. She was the first Terrapin Derby Queen of Lepanto. She was an active member of The United Methodist Church, Lepanto PTA, Lepanto Museum, the Garden Club and the Art Club. Ninya, as her grandchildren called her loved her family, her church, her flowers and her yard. People all over town loved to ride by her house to see a 97-year-old blowing the leaves in the driveway. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband: Hi Cross Sr., three sisters: Elizabeth (Tommy) Thompson, Lorine (Frank) Bell and Nina Lou (T.B.) Goldsby and two brothers: Dan (Juliet) Portis and J.C. (Evelyn Ann) Portis. Virginia is survived by her son: William Hiram Cross Jr. of Lepanto, two daughters: Annis Cross (Charles) Hill of Little Rock and Portis Cross (Robert) Pleasants of Lepanto, seven grandchildren: Jolly Cross of Nashville, Tennessee, Angie Hill (John) Reckling of Houston, Texas, Wayland Hill of Little Rock, William Hiram Cross III of Lepanto, Ginny Pleasants of Cape Coral, Florida, Beth Pleasants (Stan) Bradshaw of Wynne, Mary Pleasants (Marshall) Gilmore of Meridian, Mississippi and 10 great-grandchildren. The Cross family would like to extend a special thank you to Arkansas Hospice for the care and dedication to Mrs. Cross. Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 6, 2018 from 1 to 2 p.m.at The First United Methodist Church in Lepanto. In Lieu of flowers family requests that memorial be made to The First United Methodist Church in Lepanto, 529 Kenwood Avenue, Lepanto, Arkansas 72354. Delancey-Murphy Funeral Home in Lepanto is in charge of service.