Etta Martin Cross, 91, of Newport News, Va., passed away on Wednesday, December 15, 2022. She was born June 20, 1931, in Eclipse, VA, the daughter of the late Margaret Valentine Martin and George Budd Martin Sr.  Etta graduated from Chuckatuck High School in 1948 and married Claud Willis Cross Jr. on March 15, 1952, at Mount Zion Congregational Christian Church in Eclipse and their son, Martin Louis Cross, was born in 1954.  Willis and Etta celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, shortly before he passed away in 2002. Etta has been a faithful member of Ivy Memorial Baptist Church in Hampton, and a resident of The Chesapeake retirement community in Newport News.

Etta was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son, and good friend William (Bill) Alvin Byars, Jr.  She is survived by her granddaughter, Carrie Magill (David); grandson James Cross-Payne (Dana) of Frederick, MD.; great-grandson Dexter of Manassas, VA;  brother, George Budd Martin Jr. (Augustine) of Suffolk, VA; niece and nephew, Julie Martin and George Budd Martin III (Melissa) and their extended families; and daughter-in-law, Cindy Cross Brookshire (Curtis), of Pine Level, NC. She is also survived by her good neighbors, Ed and Judy Cherel of Yorktown who visited her often.

The interment will be at Greenlawn Memorial Park.

Arrangements are under the care of Peninsula Funeral Home, 11144 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, VA 23601.