Effie Laura Hart Crosby

Effie Hart Crosby, age 100, of Winter Haven, FL passed away peacefully at her home on October 14, 2021. Effie was born in South Georgia to Eva Mae and Jerry E. Hart on April 20, 1921 as one of 12 children. She is predeceased by her husband, Durwood F. Crosby with whom she shared 57 years of marriage. They moved from Quitman, GA to Leesburg, FL in 1957 with their six children. As a Scotty’s Supply store manager, her late husband’s job took them to Bradenton, FL, then Orlando, FL, finally settling in Winter Haven, FL in 1975, where she remained for 46 years. She is survived by her five children, Dorothy C. Barber (John) of Jacksonville, FL, Duane F. Crosby, Oyd S. Crosby (Juana), Owen H. Crosby (Kimberli) all of Winter Haven, FL, and Judy C. Davis (Barry) of Acworth, GA. Another daughter, Jacquelyn C. Piercy, predeceased both parents in 1998. Her last surviving sibling, Paul Hart, age 92, resides in Belle Glade, FL. Effie, known affectionately as “Fluffie” is also survived by her numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Always up for an adventure, Effie lived a full life of traveling across the country with Durwood in their travel trailer visiting family and friends. She and Durwood tended a beautiful garden in Winter Haven, being featured several times in the local newspaper. While rearing her children primarily in Leesburg, FL, she was an accomplished seamstress, creating beautiful draperies for many local homes. She enjoyed her work as a radio dispatcher with the Florida Game and Fish Commission in Leesburg and later worked for Warner Cable Company in Winter Haven. Her hobbies were traveling and camping, fishing, gardening, turkey hunting, sewing, climbing trees, and watching “The Wheel of Fortune” every night. The family has many photographs of her in the various trees she climbed throughout her lifetime travels, including one in Central Park in New York City. She will be remembered by her family and friends for the colorful outfits and beautiful hats she created which she particularly enjoyed wearing to services at Central Church of Christ in Winter Haven. While she enjoyed her many hobbies, her proudest accomplishments were of their long marriage, loving family, and the God-filled life she and Durwood led. Effie will be remembered by her family for the proverbs and quotes she wrote and posted in various places around the house. "A million dollars and a bale of hay will be worth the same on judgment day,” is one of many posted. Once she put one up, it never came down.

A celebration of life service will be held at Pleasant Hill Church Cemetery, 1048 John Buck McCoy Rd., South Moultrie, GA, on Saturday, November 6 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Central Avenue Church of Christ 142 Avenue C SW, Winter Haven, FL 33880 or Pleasant Hill Baptist Church cemetery fund.