Randy Keith Cross, 74, of Decatur, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, March 10, surrounded by family and friends. He was born on August 2, 1950, in St. Joseph, TN, and was preceded in death by his parents, Johnny and Marie Cross, sister Deanna Seay, brother-in-law Jimmy Seay, nephew Jonathan Seay, and great-nephew Zacharie Nielsen. He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Kim; son Alex Sims (Jessica) and grandson Gavin; sister Vicki Nielsen (Norris); brother-in-law Richard Sims, and a host of beloved nieces and nephews.
Randy was a distinguished scholar, earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of North Alabama and a Ph.D. in English from Ole Miss in 1977. He was known for his scholarly work on Mark Twain and Tennessee author T. S. Stribling. Randy excelled in the classroom at Calhoun Community College for almost 40 years, inspiring countless students and earning two prestigious Fulbright Scholarships.
In addition to his academic achievements, Randy served in the Tennessee Army National Guard, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2001. He was a devoted member of the Beltline Church of Christ.
A funeral will be held at Southside Church of Christ in St. Joseph, Tennessee on Friday, March 14, with visitation from 11 AM to 1 PM and the service to follow. A celebration of life will also be held at Calhoun Community College on March 25 at 6:00 PM at the Alabama Center for the Arts, Performing Arts Building 2, Decatur, Alabama.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dr. Randy Cross Memorial Scholarship at Calhoun Community College.
Randy will be dearly missed by all who knew him, and his legacy will live on through his scholarly work and the lives he touched.