Winnie Elizabeth Brassell Cross, past president of the Florida State Florists' Association and former proprietor of Sally's Roses and More in St. Augustine, passed away on April 5, 2016 after a long battle with breast cancer. She was 74.
Winnie is survived by her husband of 53 years, William Cross, of Gaithersburg, Maryland; her daughters, Caren Jew, Melissa Cross and Rebecca Cross; her grandchildren, Alexander Giakoumatos, Ashley Jew, Jenna Jew, and Isabella Donahue; her brothers, John Brassell, Thomas Brassell, Lenox Brassell and many nieces and nephews and their families. She is preceded in death by her father John Brassell Sr., her mother Lydia Brassell, her stepmother Stephanie Brassell and her brother, Rudy Brassell.
In 1998, Winnie retired to St. Augustine and bought a local floral shop, Sally's Roses and More, and with her devoted employees, cultivated it into a thriving wedding enterprise, serving hundreds of brides and their families. True to Winnie's spirit, Sally's also became a dedicated community partner. A charismatic leader, compelling advocate, and gracious representative, Winnie was elected president of Florida State Florists' Association and served from 2008–2010. She was elected to the Florida State Florist Hall of Fame in 2014.
In 2011 the Crosses moved to Fort Walton Beach, where they assisted in the care of Winnie's father, John Brassell Sr., who succumbed to cancer in 2013 at the age of 98.
Upon receiving a diagnosis of Stage IV metastasis in 2014, Winnie returned to the Washington, DC area for treatment, which also allowed her to be close to her three daughters and their families. She repeatedly overcame her doctors' expectations, keeping her terminal prognosis at bay for over 2 years. Winnie is often described by all as an angel on earth who touched the lives of everyone she met. Her thoughtfulness, graciousness, elegance, generosity and humor will be deeply missed.
A memorial service will be held in St. Augustine at Craig Funeral Home on May 21 at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Winnie's honor may be made to Hire Heroes USA or the Conquer Cancer Foundation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Published Online in Northwest Florida Daily News on May 6, 2016
Winnie is survived by her husband of 53 years, William Cross, of Gaithersburg, Maryland; her daughters, Caren Jew, Melissa Cross and Rebecca Cross; her grandchildren, Alexander Giakoumatos, Ashley Jew, Jenna Jew, and Isabella Donahue; her brothers, John Brassell, Thomas Brassell, Lenox Brassell and many nieces and nephews and their families. She is preceded in death by her father John Brassell Sr., her mother Lydia Brassell, her stepmother Stephanie Brassell and her brother, Rudy Brassell.
In 1998, Winnie retired to St. Augustine and bought a local floral shop, Sally's Roses and More, and with her devoted employees, cultivated it into a thriving wedding enterprise, serving hundreds of brides and their families. True to Winnie's spirit, Sally's also became a dedicated community partner. A charismatic leader, compelling advocate, and gracious representative, Winnie was elected president of Florida State Florists' Association and served from 2008–2010. She was elected to the Florida State Florist Hall of Fame in 2014.
In 2011 the Crosses moved to Fort Walton Beach, where they assisted in the care of Winnie's father, John Brassell Sr., who succumbed to cancer in 2013 at the age of 98.
Upon receiving a diagnosis of Stage IV metastasis in 2014, Winnie returned to the Washington, DC area for treatment, which also allowed her to be close to her three daughters and their families. She repeatedly overcame her doctors' expectations, keeping her terminal prognosis at bay for over 2 years. Winnie is often described by all as an angel on earth who touched the lives of everyone she met. Her thoughtfulness, graciousness, elegance, generosity and humor will be deeply missed.
A memorial service will be held in St. Augustine at Craig Funeral Home on May 21 at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Winnie's honor may be made to Hire Heroes USA or the Conquer Cancer Foundation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Published Online in Northwest Florida Daily News on May 6, 2016
Winnie Elizabeth Brassell Cross, past president of the Florida State Florists' Association and former proprietor of Sally's Roses and More in St. Augustine, passed away on April 5, 2016 after a long battle with breast cancer. She was 74.
Winnie is survived by her husband of 53 years, William Cross, of Gaithersburg, Maryland; her daughters, Caren Jew, Melissa Cross and Rebecca Cross; her grandchildren, Alexander Giakoumatos, Ashley Jew, Jenna Jew, and Isabella Donahue; her brothers, John Brassell, Thomas Brassell, Lenox Brassell and many nieces and nephews and their families. She is preceded in death by her father John Brassell Sr., her mother Lydia Brassell, her stepmother Stephanie Brassell and her brother, Rudy Brassell.
In 1998, Winnie retired to St. Augustine and bought a local floral shop, Sally's Roses and More, and with her devoted employees, cultivated it into a thriving wedding enterprise, serving hundreds of brides and their families. True to Winnie's spirit, Sally's also became a dedicated community partner. A charismatic leader, compelling advocate, and gracious representative, Winnie was elected president of Florida State Florists' Association and served from 2008–2010. She was elected to the Florida State Florist Hall of Fame in 2014.
In 2011 the Crosses moved to Fort Walton Beach, where they assisted in the care of Winnie's father, John Brassell Sr., who succumbed to cancer in 2013 at the age of 98.
Upon receiving a diagnosis of Stage IV metastasis in 2014, Winnie returned to the Washington, DC area for treatment, which also allowed her to be close to her three daughters and their families. She repeatedly overcame her doctors' expectations, keeping her terminal prognosis at bay for over 2 years. Winnie is often described by all as an angel on earth who touched the lives of everyone she met. Her thoughtfulness, graciousness, elegance, generosity and humor will be deeply missed.
A memorial service will be held in St. Augustine at Craig Funeral Home on May 21 at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Winnie's honor may be made to Hire Heroes USA or the Conquer Cancer Foundation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Published Online in Northwest Florida Daily News on May 6, 2016
Winnie is survived by her husband of 53 years, William Cross, of Gaithersburg, Maryland; her daughters, Caren Jew, Melissa Cross and Rebecca Cross; her grandchildren, Alexander Giakoumatos, Ashley Jew, Jenna Jew, and Isabella Donahue; her brothers, John Brassell, Thomas Brassell, Lenox Brassell and many nieces and nephews and their families. She is preceded in death by her father John Brassell Sr., her mother Lydia Brassell, her stepmother Stephanie Brassell and her brother, Rudy Brassell.
In 1998, Winnie retired to St. Augustine and bought a local floral shop, Sally's Roses and More, and with her devoted employees, cultivated it into a thriving wedding enterprise, serving hundreds of brides and their families. True to Winnie's spirit, Sally's also became a dedicated community partner. A charismatic leader, compelling advocate, and gracious representative, Winnie was elected president of Florida State Florists' Association and served from 2008–2010. She was elected to the Florida State Florist Hall of Fame in 2014.
In 2011 the Crosses moved to Fort Walton Beach, where they assisted in the care of Winnie's father, John Brassell Sr., who succumbed to cancer in 2013 at the age of 98.
Upon receiving a diagnosis of Stage IV metastasis in 2014, Winnie returned to the Washington, DC area for treatment, which also allowed her to be close to her three daughters and their families. She repeatedly overcame her doctors' expectations, keeping her terminal prognosis at bay for over 2 years. Winnie is often described by all as an angel on earth who touched the lives of everyone she met. Her thoughtfulness, graciousness, elegance, generosity and humor will be deeply missed.
A memorial service will be held in St. Augustine at Craig Funeral Home on May 21 at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Winnie's honor may be made to Hire Heroes USA or the Conquer Cancer Foundation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Published Online in Northwest Florida Daily News on May 6, 2016
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
