Karen Bathurst Cross

On August 24, 2026, Karen Bathurst Cross, 72, affectionately known to many as “Gaga,” but as Mama to just one, quietly took her last breath on Earth and opened her eyes in Glory! While those who loved her feel her absence now and will feel it for years to come, we rejoice knowing that a very special family reunion was held in Heaven this morning. She joined her husband, Ted; her parents, Bob and Charlotte; and four little babies she never got to meet on this side.

Mom was born and raised in Williamsburg, Va., but became an important part of the Surry County and Town of Waverly communities. She began working with Surry County Public Schools in 1984, first as a substitute, then as an instructional aide, and eventually as a special education teacher, a role she held until 2002. She continued teaching special education students in Chesterfield County and Bedford County until her health made it too difficult to continue, and she retired in 2016. Her love for those with intellectual disabilities was obvious in every interaction she had with her students.

While her health limited her activities in later years, she formed close bonds with her fellow patients and the care team at Fresenius Kidney Care in Bedford. Her independence, spunk, and determination made a lasting impression on everyone who crossed her path.

She leaves behind her daughter, Heidi Schieber (and her husband, Tim); her granddaughters, Katie Nanny and Belle Nanny; and an “adopted son,” Danny Morgan.

In the years before losing Dad, she loved to cook for him, his fellow state troopers, and their families. She opened our home on snowy days so they could drop by for a plate of homemade spaghetti, and hosted Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve open houses with a spread of finger foods.

Mom loved Elvis and plants — especially orchids — enjoyed reading historical and contemporary romance, and in recent years developed a keen affinity for K-dramas and Japanese game shows. She was a foodie, especially fond of a really good ribeye or a pupu tray. And her drink always required “lots and lots of ice.”

Although she originally requested we spread her ashes in Pirates of the Caribbean, she agreed a lifetime ban from Walt Disney World wasn’t worth the risk. So, per her most recent wishes, we’ll be having a private ceremony next month, setting her adrift on the waves for one final trip to the beach she loved.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the National Kidney Foundation:

National Kidney Foundation Finance Department

30 East 33rd Street

New York, NY 10016

support.kidney.org/campaign/768657/donate