Albert Crosby

Albert Louis Crosby was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas on September 22, 1948 to Howard Crosby and Rosie Lee Smith who, along with his brother Roy Harold Chisholm, preceded him in death. He spent his early childhood in Pine Bluff with his grandparents the late, Albert and Cora Smith. He moved to Las Vegas, Nevada at the age of eight, joining his mother, the late Rosie Lee Brooks and stepfather, the late Robert Brooks.

Baptized at an early age at Mount Tabor Baptist Church in Fordyce, Arkansas, Al grew up attending Upper Room Church of God in Christ in Las Vegas, Nevada. He united with Unity Baptist Church in 1993, where he served as a trustee, member of the male chorus, and the Deacon Board. Al also served with the church's community outreach program and their involvement with the Unity Village Community Food Bank.

He attended elementary and secondary schools in The Clark County School District, graduating from Las Vegas High School in 1967. He attended college at Arkansas AM&N College (now University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff) and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology in 1971 and later obtained a Master of Science in Public Administration from University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Al started his professional career as a probation officer with the Arkansas State Parole and Probation Department. He returned to Las Vegas in 1973 and started his illustrious career with the Clark County Department of Family and Youth Services. In his position as supervisor, he was responsible for the transition of the Child Abuse and Neglect Division from state to county operations. He established the initial hotline for Child Abuse reporting, which is now an integral part of the agency. He was a certified P.O.S.T. instructor for correction managers and probation officers as well as a certified state and national trainer for the Child Welfare League of America. Al was promoted to Division Manager of Clark County Juvenile Justice/Detention Services in the mid-nineties, which was at the time, the third largest Juvenile Justice System in the nation. While working there, he met Beverly George and they were united in holy matrimony in 1992. After more than 31 years, Al retired from the Clark County Juvenile Justice Services Department in 2004.

His involvement in numerous community and civic activities gave Al the opportunity to serve in many capacities, including: board members of the Board of National Juvenile Detention Association and the Southern Nevada Football Association. He served on the Clark County Juvenile and Community Partners Graduate Sanction Program and served as President of the Silver State Juvenile Detention Association; the National Forum for Black Public Administrators for the State of Nevada; and Las Vegas Alumni Chapter of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He was a proud member of the Las Vegas Junior Chamber of Commerce's class of 1995.

Al was the Founder and served as the President of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of Nevada. His civic/political accomplishments also include co-authoring the bill that later became law requiring all newborns in Nevada to be screened for any type of blood disease. Al also co-authored the AB32-Child Abuse and Neglect Law of Nevada. He was a founding member and former vice-president of the Las Vegas Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers 9th and 10th Calvary Unit. Al was the first African American chosen to serve as an Ambassador for the State of Nevada to the United Nations.

He was actively involved and committed to the Masonic Order, beginning his Masonic career in college in Haygood Lodge #407 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Al was very proud of the fact that the Most Worshipful Grand Master ((at that time) was the one who conducted his Masonic initiation. His Masonic experience continued with the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F & AM of Nevada, Inc. and rose through the ranks to become a Past Master of King Solomon Lodge #2 and working in the Grand Lodge. In 2008, he became the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Nevada Jurisdiction. Among his many Masonic accomplishments are the following: Illustrious Commander of Lewis F. Contrell Consistory #339 of the Ancient Accepted Scottish of Freemasonry; Illustrious Potentate of Ophir Temple #211 of the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of North and South America. After serving successfully as a volunteer with the national body, he received an appointment as Imperial Director of Credentials with the Prince Hall Shiners. He was looking forward to his duties this year with his committee in New Orleans, LA this August. His most recent awards include being made an Honorary Kentucky Colonial by the recommendations of several Most Worshipful Grand Master of Kentucky. A pride award was to be named Honorary Past Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F & A M, of Arkansas in February 2011 as well as an Arkansas Traveler by the Governor of Arkansas. He is also Honorary Grand Master Arizona and New Mexico. He was anticipating the end of his term as Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Master of Nevada and during volunteer work with the Nevada Prince Hall Masonic Foundation and the Grand Lodge.

Albert departed this life on January 6, 2012. He leaves to morn and cherish his memory, his loving, devoted wife, Beverly; daughters – Jackie Jordan of Atlanta, Georgia and LaMadrid Maine–Marquez of Arlington, Texas; son – Roy R. Maine of Las Vegas. Grandchildren – Savannah, Johnetta, and Gryphon; sisters– Irma Brooks and LaJuana Brooks (Michael) both of Las Vegas; Janice Brooks-Nichter (Carl) of Ivins, Utah; Derxel R. Kade (Don) of Baltimore, MD and Cheryl Freeman (_______) of Lawton, Oklahoma; Goddaughters Mary and Jinseng Nicholson (parents Thomas and Mary) of Las Vegas; brothers by bond – Larry Cooper and Cranford Crawford; and a host of family and friends.

Arrangements under the direction of Thomas and Jones Funeral Home, Las Vegas, NV.