 Edward B. Cross, MD Rear Admiral, Ret. CHARLOTTE - Edward Brown Cross, age 91, a resident of Sardis Oaks Skilled Nursing in Charlotte, NC died on August 14th, 2012. He was the 6th of seven children born to John "Monk" Hayward and Margie Brown Cross on Feb. 11, 1921 in Haynes, Arkansas. Edward graduated from Lincoln High School, Forrest City, AR, (1939); received his Bachelor of Science degree from Philander C. Smith University, Little Rock, AR (1943); served honorably during World War II in Europe (1943 to 1945). After the war, while working at the VA in NY, he met and married Abbye Riley of Bluffton, SC . Post Graduate studies: Graduate school, Columbia University, NYC, NY; M.D. Degree, Howard University, Washington, DC (1952). Internship: Internal Medicine, US Public Health Service (USPHS) Hospital, Chicago, IL and Harvard University Teaching Hospital, Boston, MA. Residency: Thorndike Laboratory and the University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA (1957-1959). Post Residency: Dr. Cross dedicated the next 50 years of his professional career working for or in collaboration with federal government health programs to assist the underprivileged and underserved. 1959-60: Assistant Chief of Medicine at the USPHS Service Hospital, Seattle, WA. 1960-62: Chief of Ambulatory Care at the USPHS Hospital, San Francisco, CA. From 1962-64 he served as Medical Director of the U.S. Peace Corps in Ethiopia working under founding Peace Corps Director, Sargent Shriver and met with Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie on social and professional occasions. After this, Dr. Cross served as Director of the Office of Health and Scientific Affairs in the Department of Health, Education and Welfare (DHEW). In 1969, Dr. Edward Cross, was promoted to Assistant Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service, the first African American Physician to attain this rank. Served as Acting Surgeon General during the administration turnover between Presidents Johnson to Nixon. His work as interim Director, Cleveland's Health Department, earned him a commendation from then Cleveland Mayor, Carl Stokes. Dr. Edward Cross later left government service to serve as Vice Provost for Health Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City, playing a key role in the development and implementation of an innovative six year medical education program. In 1974, Dr. Edward Cross worked as Director of Health, Nutrition and Population Programs for the Africa Bureau of the Agency for International Development (U.S. A.I.D.) providing proposals to Sub-Sahara African Countries and as a consultant to international health organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO). In Dr. Edward Cross' later years and well into his early 80s, he provided consultative services and authored several papers on health care systems development for both the public and private sectors. Awards include: Distinguished Alumni Award of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, National Association for Equal Opportunities in Higher Education (NAFEO) (1994), Distinguished Service Award from Howard University College of Medicine (1997). Dr. Edward Cross was a Fellow of both the American College of Physicians and American College of Cardiology. While Dr. Cross dedicated his life and professional career to improve medical care for the dis-advantaged, he always maintained his humility, generosity, and sense of humor. He truly enjoyed life and was a positive influence to all he encountered. He is survived by his spouse of 64 years, Abbye E. Riley Cross, his three daughters and their spouses: Zina C. Garrin-Cross (Neil Garrin) of Takoma Park, MD and Dr. Analisa Cross Cooper (Tony Cooper) of Waxhaw, NC and Rona M. Cross of Matthews, NC. His survivors also include 5 grandchildren: Alec Garrin Blake, Nick Garrin, Justine Garrin, Anissa Cooper and Arynn Cooper; his brother-in-law, Hermon Williams, Sr. and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and numerous friends. Visitations to celebrate the life of Edward B. Cross, M.D. will be held at 12:00 noon on Thursday, August 23rd at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, 3301 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte, NC, 28216, to be followed by a Funeral Service at 1:00pm. The Interment will be conducted on Friday, August 24th at 12:00 noon at the Salisbury National Cemetery, 501 Statesville Boulevard, Salisbury, NC. Brooks and Davis Funeral and Cremation Service is serving the family.
Published in Charlotte Observer on August 23, 2012
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