Verna June Anastasi, age 67, passed away Friday, May 22, 2020 to heart failure at her home in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was born June 4, 1952 in Chillicothe, Missouri to Verna Baker and Johnnie Johnson.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Beverly, and her brothers, Walter, Gary, Joseph Clayton, Johnny Ray, & Ronnie Johnson.
June moved to Charlotte seventeen years ago to help take care of her grandchildren, Jessica & Keeley Wood. During this new start, she met & married Edward Thomas Cross. She was a dedicated wife to Ed for sixteen years and never once let him forget that she was in charge. Her family grew to include Ed’s daughters, Lore Maguire, Patty Sussman-Tuttle, and Sandy Perrott. She continued to be tremendously loving to her daughter Candace Wood and always supported her through every moment.
Her grandchildren are Jessica Lynn & Keeley June Wood. Her step-grandchildren are Griffin & Sophia Perrott; Amy & Matthew Maguire; and Darah & Maegan Sussman & Ryan Tuttle.
June was full of love & worked hard until her last day. At one point in her life she was a Correctional Officer for the State of Missouri. She was a no-nonsense type of woman. However her true passion of loving babies was fulfilled when she finally accepted her role as Granny June. She loved being a grandma and caring for Jessica & Keeley. After she would get one child into school, a new one would appear for her to start all over again. She was given “taxi grandma” award from the Cranberry Nook crew as she would make her afternoon rounds to pick up Colt, Keeley & Kryah Talford for a couple years.
Her love continued to burn bright as a nanny for Colt Ewing & Chanson Robinson. She made sure that every day they were loved the way a grandmother loves. She played pretend, wrestled on the floor & transformed their day into an adventure. She would give her days to her daughter, grandchildren & friends. Then her nights she would sit with Papa Ed and retell the funny stories of what the kids would say & do. She loved to laugh and her laughter would fill any dull dreary night. She was “one of a kind”. If you truly knew her heart then you simply loved her.
June leaves to remember, husband Edward Thomas Cross and daughter Candace Renee Wood. Her grandchildren aforementioned, her sister Donna Gale Adkison, her brother Larry Dean Johnson, 18 nieces and nephews and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.
A memorial service will be held 2:30-5:30, Friday, June 19 at Hickory Tavern, 9010 Harris Corners Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28269. You can post your favorite memory of June at this link https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/charlotte-nc/verna-anastasi-9194163
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Papa Ed through GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/f/june-cross-memorial-for-papa-ed
Arrangements and cremation services provided by McEwen Funeral Service-Derita Chapel.
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