Dorice Lynette Crosby

You didn’t have to be in the same room with Dorice Crosby to know when she was around. Her high-pitched giggle always came on the heels of a snarky, low-pitched comment about whatever she found amusing. No matter if you missed the comment: her squeaky giggle was so infectious, it was hard not to chuckle along with her. This ability to find humor in almost any situation was a strength that served her well throughout her life.

Dorice Lynette “Ricki” Williams was the second of four children born to Richard and Dorothy Williams. She came into the world on Sunday, August 23, 1959, not long after her parents and their first-born, Celestyne "Terri," had moved away from New York City to start a new life in Los Angeles. The name Dorice was a mashup of her parents' names, but as she grew, the nickname “Ricki” seemed well suited to her plucky personality. Besides, she was the spitting image of her dad, Rick.

As a child, Ricki loved to sing, dance, read, write, and play pranks on her friends and siblings. As her parents’ family grew, she joined her big sister in looking out for their younger siblings, Caryl and Roy, while also caring for the family’s wide assortment of pets, which over the years included dogs, rabbits, birds, sheep, a pony, and others. Quick-witted Ricki was especially clever at figuring out how to either finish her chores early or skirt them altogether so she could hang out with her friends.

Over time, Ricki’s father became a successful realtor, owning several properties and businesses across Southern California, giving her early exposure to the benefits and demands of entrepreneurship. In 1971 her parents decided to move the family to Guyana, a young South American nation that had recently won its independence from Great Britain. An unfortunate turn of events cut the family’s adventure short and before long Ricki, her siblings and mom returned to the U.S. to start life over in New York City.

Fortunately, they were embraced by an abundance of loving relatives and, eventually, Dorothy and her sister Leotha bought a house together in the Jamaica section of Queens. The house on 180th Street was where Ricki, her siblings, and cousin Lynn finished growing up. In time, her maternal grandfather, Allen Hay, also moved in. The home quickly became a lively hub of creativity, laughter and love; a safe space where friends of the kids knew they were welcome to stop by for thoughtful conversation, a satisfying meal and a good time.

Dorice was a young woman who loved to style. Like all the women in her family, she knew how to sew and would frequently change her wardrobe, hairstyle and makeup to stay atop of the latest trends. Whether sporting a fluffy 'fro, a short-cropped Bob, or a curly dyed perm, her hair was always, ALWAYS fly! She enjoyed producing fabulous hairstyles for her friends and relatives, too.

Good food was another of Dorice’s passions. She’d enthusiastically spend hours in the kitchen whipping up a creative meal that delighted the palate of whoever was there to partake. Just don't expect her to wash dishes afterwards.

Dorice always excelled academically, skipping a grade in elementary school and graduating ahead of her peers from New York’s August Martin High in 1976. She was an exceptionally gifted writer who was fully prepared for college, though she opted to adventure to the UK to join her high school sweetheart, Gregory Crosby, who was completing military service. In January 1983, the two married, and their union produced three dynamic children, Taryn Martine (born 1983), Aria Camille (born 1987), and Yansa Fatima (1992).

The Crosbys moved to North Carolina in 1991, where Dorice wholeheartedly nurtured her children's creative and academic interests, including performing in school musicals and plays, competing in sports, and other creative and academic pursuits. She also made friends and became involved in a variety of local political and social activities, including her husband’s active basketball league. Despite living 500 miles south of her own mother and siblings, Dorice remained deeply devoted to them, visiting for holidays and birthdays whenever possible.

In the summer of 2000, Dorice, Greg and the kids journeyed to Jane’s Island State Park in Maryland for a summer vacation with relatives and friends. The trip soon became an annual family tradition, during which they would gather with her siblings, cousins, nieces, nephew, and friends to canoe, barbecue, sit around campfires, swim at Chincoteague beach, eat fresh crab and croaker, dance, sing, and swap countless laughs and stories. The week’s final evening typically ended with a family talent show, during which the Crosby children would perform selections of music, dance and/or theatrical offerings as their adoring mother looked on with pride.

One by one, as Dorice’s beloved children graduated from high school and pursued their dreams, she decided it was finally time to get her own postsecondary credential. She was trained as a home health aide and provided care for seniors. Though her health care career was cut short by the onset of her own unforeseen health challenges, she never regretted going back to school and gained tremendous satisfaction from caring for others. Years later, her training would come in handy as she occasionally stepped in to care for her brother and other relatives and friends who fell ill.

With their children settling into their careers — Taryn as a psychotherapist, Aria as an early childhood educator, and Yansa pursuing their dreams as a working actor in New York — Dorice and Greg were free to travel. They visited Las Vegas, Northern and Southern California and Aruba. Though Ricki enjoyed these excursions, she was most eager to spend time with her mother, who by then had relocated to Kissimmee, Fla. So, in 2021, she and Greg sold their house in Raleigh and moved to Kissimmee. They purchased a home only a short distance from where her mom, sister Terri and brother-in-law Marc live. Dorice and Greg soon became active in Solivita’s African American Heritage Cultural Club (AHCC), the Road Runner travel group, and the Democratic Club.

Ricki's declining health made it difficult to fully enjoy her new community, but she was thrilled to be near family. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February 2023 and despite facing the challenge with courage and hope, succumbed to it on Saturday, August 5, 2023. During her final weeks, Dorice connected with friends and family from around the country by phone and on social media.

She had the grace and good fortune to spend her final hours surrounded by loved ones.

Dorice’s legacy will be carried forward by her children: Taryn Crosby (and partner Yoni Reinberg), Aria Irvin (and husband Anthony Irvin), and Yansa Fatima; mother Dorothy Williams; husband Gregory Crosby; cherished grandchildren Kyree, Ada, Isaac, and Kaleb Irvin; siblings Celeste Williams, Caryl Wynn, and Roy Williams; aunts Leotha Singleton and Pauline Fields; uncle Earl Fields; brothers-in-law John Wynn and Marc Buchannon; nephew Torin Wynn and niece Giselle Wynn and her son Milo; cousins Eleanor Graham, Lynn Harwell, Cheryl Fields, Mark Fields, Leslie Fields-Cruz, and her friends Bridget Grimes, Bridget Mosely, Karen Creacy, Regina Nash, and Trisha Williams; and dozens of other relatives and dear friends. Dorice was preceded by her father, Richard Williams and cousin Kevin Warren Davis.

The family extends our deepest appreciation to all the health care workers who cared for Dorice and to all other family and friends who have held us in prayer over the past several months. We ask for your continued support and patience as we now must adjust to life without the physical presence of our beloved Dorice. In one of her last social media posts, she wrote, "Time passes, but the joyful memories hang on."

We hope memories of times you spent with Ricki and her delightful laughter will bring you comfort and joy.