Nettie Lorene Westbrook Crossley, age 94 of Columbus, MS, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, February 21, 2018, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Columbus.  She was surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Lorene was born October 2, 1923, in Monroe Co., MS, near Bartahatchie to Autstin O. Westbrook and Myrtle Cosby Westbrook.  Lorene gave her life to the Lord and was baptised in the creek on Dees Road in Vernon (Molloy Community) around 1956.  She was a member of Mt. Pleasant Free Will Baptist Church and attended First Baptist Church in Columbus, MS for the last several years.

She was a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker.  She spent her life serving God and her family.  She was most happy when her family was with her.  When the grandchildren were young, she loved babysitting them and tended to them like they were her own.  Her favorite past time was having her family get together every week and cooking for them.

She enjoyed reading her Bible, watching Wheel of Fortune and Walker, Texas Ranger.  Each year, she looked forward to the family vacation to the beach in Florida.

Lorene attended grade school in Bartahatchie, MS, until the age of about eight when the family moved to Delta City as sharecroppers during The Great Depression.  The family returned to the Bartahatchie Community around 1939.  She stayed home after ninth grade and tended to the house work while other family members worked in the cotton fields.

In 1944, she began work at Gulf Ordinance making shells for the war.  in 1953, she began working at Seminole in Columbus, MS.  She traveled to work each day by bus from Old Wolf Road near Caledonia.

She married Luke Crossley on December 24, 1951, at the Lowndes County Courthouse.  They resided in Columbus, MS where their five children were born.  In 1962, the family moved to the old Crossley home place in Vernon, AL where they attended Mt. Pleasant Free Will Baptist Church.  In 1968, she began working at Glenn Manufacturing Company in Vernon where she worked for eighteen years as a seamstress and inspector.

Her husband, A.L. "Luke" Crossley, of nearly thirty years, passed away in 1982, at which time she moved to Columbus, MS, where she resided until her death.

Visitation will be Friday, February 23, 2018, from 12:00-2:00 PM with funeral services following at 2:00 PM at Chandler Funeral Home in Vernon, AL.  Bro. Danny Thompson and Billy Paul Crossley will officiate.  Interment will follow at Mt. Pleasant Free Will Baptist Church.

Pallbearers will be Rick McGill, Terry Perkins, Alex Brown, Jon Suddith, Chase McGill, Justin Lann, and Jesse Raley.  Honorary pallbearers are Shawn Parker, Dr. Brett Brown, and Dr. Frank Dailey.

Lorene is preceded in death by her parents; husband, A.L. "Luke" Crossley; brothers, Monroe, Charles, and Lloyd Westbrook; and sister, Barbara Williams, Ruby Rodgers, and Mae Rayner.

She is survived her children, Edna Crossley McGill (Rick) of Columbus, MS, Buddy Crossley (Denna) of Venron, AL, Vickie Brown (Alex) of Vernon, AL, Sandy Perkins (Terry) of Vernon, AL, and Melissa Suddith (Jon) of Columbus, MS; her brother, Herbert Westbrook (Exie) of Columbus, MS; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family is sincerely appreciative to the staff at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle.  We are eternally grateful for the loving care and friendship of Yolanda Hudgins.  Thank you to our family and friends for their support, continuing prayers, encouraging words, food, and flowers.