Charmalita Santa Maria B. Cross lovingly deemed “Aunt Maria” , “Marie”, and “Momma Cross” was born August 08, 1948 in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was the 3rd Born of 5 children. She was baptized at St. Joseph church in Cincinnati. In her earlier years she was Santa Maria by family and close friends, but as an adult she began going by Charmalita.
Charmalita lived part of her childhood in Ohio, then her parents moved the family to New York, and they finally settled in Houston, TX. She attended catholic school during her elementary and middle school years. Charmalita would go on to attend and graduate Phyllis Wheatley High School in 5th Ward of Houston, TX. Post high school Charmalita relocated to San Diego, California where she met Calvin Cross, a U.S. Marine. The two were married and from that union they blessed with a son, Calvin J. Cross II.
Charmalita had multiple jobs simultaneously over the course of her adult life. While living in San Diego she began working for the Department of Navy in 1967, and was employed with them until 1978, when she the tough but necessary decision to leave a tumultuous situation in San Diego and return to her home state of Texas with her then young son Calvin. She and Calvin Jr. settled in Dallas, TX where she began working for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Oak Cliff. She would eventually retire from her government job in 2001. While employed with the V.A. Charmalita also held jobs with Federal Express Corporation as a shipping clerk and Parkland Hospital as a secretary in Nursing Administration. She retired from Fed Ex in 2005. She worked at Parkland hospital starting in 1979 where she continued to work, even through multiple afflictions, lack of walking and pain until her death.
LOVE, SERVICE, COMPASSION, HUMILITY, EMPATHY, and PERSEVERANCE flowed through and from Charmalita. She truly believed in self-sacrifice and putting others before herself. She had so many people she cared about and showered with love and affection, most of all her son, her pride and joy, her “Big Man”, Calvin II. Charmalita was a “Karate Mom” and known in the Texas martial Arts community for her tireless and demonstrative support of her son. November 1984 at Red Bird recreation center in Oak Cliff, Chuck Timmons and D.P. Hill tested Calvin for his Black Belt at the age of 10. Charmalita surprisingly received an “Honorary Black Belt” the same night her son was presented 1st degree black belt. Calvin II is now a Senior Corporal in the Dallas Police Department and works as a community police officer in the Red Bird area and communities in Oak Cliff.
Charmalita volunteered with and financially supported many causes. Three of her top causes were helping children, helping victims of domestic violence, being a survivor herself, and all-encompassing resources for Vietnam War Era combat veterans. She was dedicated to the happiness and best quality of life for “ALL” children. She steadfastly made it her mission to make every child she encountered feel “LOVE”.
Charmalita was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Frankie (US Marine), and Angela.
Charmalita leaves to cherish her memory her loving son, Calvin Cross II (Big Mann); her grandson, Calvin Cross III (Trey), sister, Antoinette; brother, Rico; a host of nieces, nephews, bonus sons and daughters, and colleagues.
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