James “Jimmy” Crosby

Born on May 2, 1966, in Orangeburg, South Carolina, Jimmy was the son of the late Eloise and James Crosby. A proud native of Orangeburg, he graduated from Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School before attending the University of South Carolina, where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s, and was completing his doctoral degree.

Jimmy dedicated 31 years of his life to education in Richland School District Two, teaching at Ridge View High School, Westwood High School, Lake Carolina Elementary School, and Bookman Road Elementary School. Over the course of his career as both a special education and social studies teacher, he impacted countless students, families, and colleagues with his compassion, humor, patience, and unwavering belief in the value of every person.

Teaching was never simply a profession for Jimmy. It was an extension of who he was. He had a gift for making people feel seen, welcomed, and valued. His classrooms were filled not only with lessons in history and civics, but also with laughter, kindness, and encouragement.

Jimmy had a lifelong passion for history, especially the history of Indigenous peoples and military aircraft. He believed deeply in civic duty and the importance of participating in democracy, faithfully exercising the right to vote and encouraging others to do the same. Outside the classroom, he found joy in the outdoors, traveling, hunting for fossils and shark teeth, listening to music, spending time at the beach, and loving animals, especially dogs.

More than anything, Jimmy will be remembered for the way he made people feel. He was funny, gregarious, endlessly curious, deeply compassionate, and profoundly grateful for the people in his life. He had a way of turning ordinary conversations into memorable stories and strangers into friends.

Jimmy is survived by his beloved wife of 37 years, Stephanie Walker Crosby of Columbia, South Carolina, and his son, Jordan Crosby of Seattle, Washington.

Stephanie and Jordan cherish every opportunity to speak about Jimmy, his life, and the extraordinary work he did as a teacher, husband, father, and friend. His legacy lives on in the countless students he encouraged, the people he made laugh, and the family and friends who loved him deeply.

A memorial service will be held at 4:00 pm on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at Dunbar Funeral Home, Northeast Chapel. A visitation will be held following the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Jimmy’s memory to the Kershaw County Humane Society and that you honor one of his deepest values by voting in your federal, state, and local elections.