Merriel Lee "Mary" (HENDERSON) Cross

Merriel Lee "Mary" (HENDERSON) Cross, 83, resident of Cairo, Died Monday, May 24, 2004, while a patient at the Southern Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

She was born April 9, 1921, to the late Verge and Bertha (WILEY) Henderson in Hughes, Ark. and lived in Cairo for more than 63 years.

She was a longtime active member of Liberty Missionary Baptist Church in Cairo until it disbanded. Currently she was a member of New Beginning United Free Will Baptist Church in Cairo where she was a member of the Mother's Board, the board of trustees, and as a chairmen of the kitchen committee until her health failed her.

On Nov. 2, 1941, she was united in marriage to Bennie Cross Sr.

In addition to her parents, Merriel is preceded in death by her husband; a son, Benny Cross Jr.; three brothers and two sisters.

Survivors include David LaGrone of Buffalo, N. Y. and LaDon Cross of Cairo; two daughters, Iolar Henderson of Dallas, Texas and Rosemary Cross-Robinson of Cairo; one sister, Ardelia Tyms of Memphis, Tenn., two brothers, Birdell Henderson of Farmington, N. Y. and Alfred of Dallas, Texas; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild and one uncle, Thurman Wiley of Forrest City, Ark.

Services will be at noon Saturday at the New Beginning United Free Will Baptist Church in Cairo, with Elder Perry Ellis officiating. Interment will be in Green Lawn Memorial Gardens in Villa Ridge. Visitation will be from 11a.m. to noon Saturday at the church. Williams Funeral Home of Charleston is in charge of the arrangements.