Mary Eva Lee Dean Staten Crosswhite, age 95, died August 4, 2023, after living a life filled with tremendous love, compassion, and devotion to her Christian faith and her family. Mary was born on July 3, 1928, in Okolona, to the late Samuel Dilworth and Myrtle Lawson Staten. She graduated high school in the Egypt community and attended Wood Junior College. She later married Joe Talmadge “Joe T.” Crosswhite in 1950 and remained devotedly married until his death in 1996. She was a long-time member and children’s Bible class teacher for over 50 years at the Lawson Chapel Church of Christ in the community of Una, MS. She and Joe T. lived most of their life in the country around Una where they raised cattle, pigs, chickens, vegetables, and four children. She moved from Una to Tupelo in 2016 to be closer to family members and caregivers.
Mary was known by everyone for having a gentle sprit and tender heart that overflowed with love for anyone who had need. She will be remembered for hosting numerous Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other family events at her home. She knew each person’s favorite dish and would make sure to incorporate it whenever there was a gathering. Her favorite pastimes were reading books, studying the Bible, playing Rook with her siblings, gardening, and solving crossword puzzles. In fact, she would generally have solved the entire daily newspaper crossword puzzle before most had gotten out of bed. Most importantly, her love for Jesus was first and foremost in her life, and she shone her bright Christian light to all around her, inspiring others to live a life faithful to Him.
Mary was preceded in death by a son, Kenneth Ray “Bubba”; her husband, Joe T.; and nine siblings, William, Woodrow, Raymond, Paul, Silas, John Ray, Rupert, Sally Pate, and Durward. Mary was the last of the 10 siblings to pass away, having most recently lost her beloved sister and best friend, Sally Pate, in December. She is survived by three children, Ronnie (Kathy) Crosswhite, of Tupelo; David (the late Donna) Crosswhite, of Batesville, MS; and Mary Joyce (Stephen) Morris, of Henderson, TN. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, Eric (Ekissa) Crosswhite, Dr. Brad (Angie) Crosswhite; Megan (Matt) Dennington; Dr. Tyler (Maryn) Crosswhite; Mary Beth (Matt) Wallace; Charlie (Hayli) Uhiren; Ben (Megan) Morris; and Dave Crosswhite; 10 cherished great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Mary is also survived by a numerous host of nephews and nieces and was a true blessing to countless others who had the privilege and honor of knowing her.
Visitation will be Saturday, August 12, 2023, from 1:00-2:00 PM and will be immediately followed by a celebration of life service at 2:00 P.M. at the West Main Church of Christ in Tupelo, MS and will be livestreamed on www.westmainchurch.org or https://www.youtube.com/@WestMainCOCTupelo/streams. Family and close friends will gather for interment at the Pleasant Grove Methodist Cemetery in Una. Pallbearers will be her nephew, Robert Crosswhite; and her grandsons, Eric Crosswhite, Dr. Brad Crosswhite, Dr. Tyler Crosswhite, Ben Morris, and Dave Crosswhite. Mary would be honored to know that her nephew, Russ Crosswhite, will preside at her ceremony. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her honor to the Lawson Chapel Church of Christ. Holland Funeral Directors – Tupelo Chapel is honored to serve the family.
