Outspoken, dedicated and trailblazing community leader, Rev. Dr. St. George I. B. Crosse passed away on August 7, 2019.
A statement says Crosse battled dementia and died from complications of the disease at the Woodholme Gardens facility in Pikesville, Maryland. The services to honor his life and legacy will be held on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 from 4:00 pm- 8:00 pm with a Wake Service at Vaughn Greene Funeral Home located at 8728 Liberty Road, Randallstown, MD 21133. The Homegoing Service will be held on Thursday, August 22, 2019 at 10:00 am at DreamLife Worship Center located at 4111 Deer Park Road, Randallstown, MD 21133.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations are made to the Alzheimer’s Association in Rev. Crosse’s honor.
“St. George”, as he was lovingly called by family and friends was a committed servant of Maryland, his community, family and God. In 1966, as a law student, he was the first African American to run for the Office of Sheriff of Baltimore City. Though his bid was unsuccessful, he continued in public service as a Neighborhood Director for the Community Action Agency in Baltimore City. Later in his career, he served as Special Advisor for Minority Programs in the Office of the Deputy Under the Secretary for Intergovernmental Relations in the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
There he fought tirelessly for fair housing and equal opportunity for Maryland residents for over 25 years. He was also President Ronald Reagan’s Personal Representative and Special Ambassador to the nation of St. Kitts-Nevis, West Indies when the nation gained its independence from Great Britain. Additionally, Rev. Crosse served in ministry with the Baltimore Annual Conference of the United Methodist Conference with several ministries in Baltimore City, Harford County and Washington DC for 18 years. Together, with his wife Delois as co-pastor, Rev. Crosse organized the Overcomers Tabernacle Full Gospel Methodist Church in 1994 where they continued their soul winning and evangelistic ministry in Baltimore City for another 22 years. Many people remember his innovative telephone ministry of encouraging messages that touched the lives of residents throughout the Baltimore metropolitan area.
Rev. Crosse had a passion for the Word of God, politics and controversial topics. Along with his impeccable skill for debate, his unmistakably deep, rich voice poised him as the ideal television and radio personality. For 22 years, he was the on-air host of WEAA’s “Crosse Talk” and was a frequent guest on WJZ-13’s public affairs forum talk show, “Square Off” with Richard Sher.
His drive, strong work-ethic and generosity was only outmatched by the love for his family. He was a devoted husband to his college sweetheart, Delois for 52 years and a doting father to his two daughters, Karin and Liris, his grandchildren and great grandchildren.