Reverend William Mobley Cross

Reverend William Mobley Cross, 89, was called home to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday, August 13, 2021. Mobley was born on October 31, 1931, in Vienna, to the late James Oscar Cross and Gertrude Nelson Cross. He grew up in Dooly County and graduated from Pinehurst High School in 1949.

Mobley was called to the ministry at the early age of 19 and attended seminary school at Berry College and Mercer University. He pastored 12 churches over his years of ministry. Some of his most treasured memories are from his time of service at Hattie Baptist Church, now First Baptist of Centerville, where he was a member. Mobley also loved to reminisce of starting a sister church to FBC, Westside Baptist, in 1966, from a vision God had given him. He loved and was loved by his church people, and upon retirement, was even asked to serve as interim and preach revivals in many of the rural churches he had pastored years before. Mobley was honored to perform many, many baptisms, weddings, and funerals in his 70 years of pastoring and preaching God’s Word. Many of those friends and church members preceded him in death, and he was always there to comfort those families in their time of grief. Mobley has been a treasured mentor to many men of God, and his life was a living testimony to the love that God has for us. He was bi-vocational, also dedicating his time and talents to Warner Robins Supply Company buying and selling building material for over 40 years. Mobley was well respected in that field, and loved every minute of the time he spent working for the Bayer family. He also enjoyed fishing, visiting old friends/church members, telling stories about what God had done in his life, and spoiling others by delivering donuts, or cakes and pies that his wife had baked.

Mobley dearly loved all people, especially his family, and was a Godly example of love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness to everyone in his path over his long, blessed life. His many grandchildren and great-grandchildren were a great source of pride and joy to him, and they will treasure their memories of the love so freely given by Granny and Grandaddy Cross. Mobley believed in showing his love and was always doing small gestures to let others know how much he loved them.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 49+ years, Chalene V. King Howard Cross in August 2018. Not a day went by in the last 3 years that he didn’t miss her beyond measure. He was also preceded in death by all of his 7 siblings, John H. Cross, Bernice C. Barry, Opal C. Mason, J.O. Cross, Jr., Ben Cross, Jim Cross and Janice C. Duncan.

Mobley is survived by his children, Terry Cross (Dena), Wayne Cross (Joyce), Randall Cross (Kimberly), Jimmy Howard (Cheryl) and Jan Whigum (Woody); grandchildren, Heather Cross, Christopher Cross (Lori), Shaun Cross, Ryan Cross (Blake), Callie Cross, Clay McCall, Amy Green (Bucky), Ramsey Howard (Jaclyn), Joni Ross (B.J.), Diane Fountain (Michael), Sasha Whigum and Lock Whigum (Becky); many great and great-great-grandchildren, as well as several loving nieces and nephews.

Mobley’s family will receive friends on Saturday, August 14, 2021, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at McCullough Funeral Home. A funeral service will take place at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 15, 2021, at First Baptist Church of Centerville with Rev. Don Feezor and Dr. Phil West officiating. Afterward, he will be laid to rest in Orange Hill Cemetery, Hawkinsville, Georgia.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests memorial donations be given in memory of Reverend William Mobley Cross to Heart of Georgia Hospice, 103 Westridge Drive, Warner Robins, Georgia 31088.

Learn more about the measures McCullough Funeral Home is taking to ensure the health and safety of our guests at www.mcculloughfh.com. There you can also sign an Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.