Jeanette Joy Anderson Cross

Published 9:32 am Monday, November 11, 2024

Sept. 23, 1952 – Nov. 1, 2024

SHELLMAN, GA – Jeanette (JJ) Joy Anderson Cross passed away on Nov. 1, 2024, in Aurora, CO after a very brave and difficult fight with Burkitt’s Lymphoma.

Jeanette was born on Sept. 23, 1952, in Pierre, SD to Ingvald Anderson and Marian (Radley) Anderson. She had two brothers and three sisters.

Jeanette’s parents, affectionately called Andy and Mary, operated gas stations in Deadwood for many years. Jeanette was one of the few people who grew up in Deadwood and attended grades K-12 at the Deadwood public school. She graduated high school in 1970. While in school, Jeanette was a cheerleader and tumbler performing in basketball half-time shows, riding in city parades, and cheering at other sporting events.

Jeanette married her high school sweetheart, David Anderson of Lead, SD, and had two children, Melissa and Shawn.

Jeanette was fierce about her love for her country. Jeanette enlisted in the US Army in 1976. During this time, she was enlisted and entered into the WAC (Women’s Army Corps) for basic training. This was during a time when there was a lot of opposition to women in the military. As you can imagine this required a lot of strength of character and courage, especially as a single mom of two small children. During the same year, she was stationed in Ft. Riley, KS as a part of the Big Red 1 Infantry Division. She eventually took a post at the Adjunct General’s Office as a paralegal where she remained during her active-duty post until 1981.

In 1981, Jeanette and her family moved back to Rapid City, SD where Jeanette began her career at AT&T working for North Western Bell. In 1986, she moved her family to Florida to continue her career at AT&T in the payroll department.

While working full-time at AT&T, she spent her weekends supporting various Army Reserve units. She served in the South Dakota Guard in Rapid City, SD, and the US Army Reserves in Florida and other states. During her reserve time, she was a paralegal and finished her time as a leadership instructor to the enlisted and a firearm safety expert.

Jeanette retired from the Army as a First Sergeant, in October of 2009, with 33 years of service. She also earned her college degree in IT Sciences from Darton State College (now Albany State University West Campus) in Albany, GA.

In 1994, Jeanette met her husband, Robert Cross. The two married on Nov.8, 1997. Shortly after they were married, they made Shellman, GA their home. Robert worked for International Paper and began the construction of a new tree nursery for the company outside of Shellman, GA. The nursery house is where Jeanette and Robert lived for almost 15 years. When Robert retired in 2011, the two purchased a home, in town and have lived there ever since.

Jeanette lived her best life in Georgia. She retired at an early age, and she could finally concentrate on taking care of herself, growing a garden, being active, traveling, and doing the things she has always wanted to do.

Jeanette and Robert are very active community members. They love their church and their church family. Robert is a deacon and they both sang in the choir. Jeanette and Robert have been friends with all members of the church, but the one closest to their hearts is John Pipkin.

In 2010, Jeanette joined Tony’s Gym in Albany, GA, and has been a member for 14 years. The gym became her passion and home away from home. In 2020, Jeanette became certified to teach classes. For the last four years, she has taught Yoga, Pilates, and Silver Sneakers. She developed a following of loyal students and gained life-long friends at the gym. She loved it there and she will be missed.

During the past 30 years, Jeanette and Robert became frequent travelers. They traveled to places like Savannah, GA, New Orleans, LA, and other fantastic places. Jeanette planned every vacation they went on together in great detail. No detail left to chance. Over the years the couple have visited Robert’s sister and brother-in-law in Belize, taken a cruise and adventures in Alaska, rode mules down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, and twice white-water rafted 177 miles of the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Jeanette’s favorite was traveling to Deadwood, SD to take in the Days of 1976, the Buffalo Roundup, and seeing family and friends.

Survivors include her husband, Robert E. Cross of Shellman, GA; daughter, Melissa Anderson of Englewood, CO; son, Shawn Anderson, and wife, Katie Vogel Anderson of Gainesville, FL; step-children, Tessa Saeli (James), Dustin Cross (Casey), and Matthew Cross (Angel); seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter; brother, Jack Anderson (Charlene) of Oklahoma City, OK, and sisters, Betty Driskill of Rapid City, SD, Nancy Pfeiffer of Spearfish, SD, and Susan Randazzo (Ed) of Rapid City, SD; sister-in-law, Shirley Anderson of Lake Havasu, AZ and countless nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ingvald Anderson and Marian (Radley) Anderson, and a brother, Jerry Anderson.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in the Shellman Baptist Church with Rev. Chet Anderson officiating. Graveside funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in the Natchez City Cemetery in Natchez. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 9 a.m. until the time of services in the church.

Memorials may be made to the Shellman Brotherhood in care of Jimmy Curry P. O. Box 119 Shellman, GA 39886, or donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at ttps://diy.lls.org./JeanetteAndersonCross.

Lunsford Funeral Home

Cuthbert, GA 229-732-2148