Tom Oliver Crosby

Tom Oliver Crosby, Jr., a retired United Methodist minister and World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy, died on Saturday, March 25, 2017, at the age of ninety years, surrounded by his family. A native of Jackson, Mississippi, Tom was an Eagle Scout and member of the Order of the Arrow and a graduate of Baylor Military School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He received a Bachelor of Theology degree from Asbury College and a Master of Theology degree from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. During World War II, Tom served aboard the USS BONHOMME RICHARD, where he received his call to ministry. Tom went on to serve as a United Methodist preacher for forty years with appointments in Mississippi and Louisiana. At the time of his death, he was active in Broadmoor United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he was a member of the Gumbo Sunday School class. Tom was also an active member of Kairos Prison Ministry at Angola Prison for twenty years, and he served on mission teams to India, Cuba, and the Appalachian Service Project. Tom is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, Wilma Dyess Crosby; his three children, including his daughter Cynthia Scofield and her husband, George Scofield, of San Antonio, Texas; daughter Cheryl Kirchoff and her husband, Robert Kirchoff, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; son Gene Crosby and his wife, Louanne Crosby, of Marietta, Georgia; and his eight grandchildren, including Crosby Scofield and his wife, Elizabeth Weaver Scofield, of Houston, Texas; Suzannah Scofield of Abilene, Texas; Harrison Scofield of Galveston, Texas; Lee Kirchoff of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Erin Kirchoff Reid and her husband, Scott Reid, of Houston, Texas; Alice Kirchoff, of Austin, Texas; Caroline Crosby, of Athens, Georgia; and Hannah Crosby, of Marietta, Georgia. Tom is preceded in death by his parents, Tom Crosby, Sr., and Letha Crosby; brother Martin Crosby; and sister Carol Crosby Rollings. Visitation will be at Broadmoor United Methodist Church from 9:00-11:00AM on Tuesday, March 28, with a celebration service thereafter in the Broadmoor United Methodist Church sanctuary at 11:00AM. The burial service will take place at Lakewood Cemetery in Jackson, Mississippi, on Wednesday, March 29, at 11:30AM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Kairos Prison Ministry, Broadmoor United Methodist Church, or a charity of your choice.