Joe (Papa Joe) Crosby

Joe (Papa Joe) Crosby, 83, of Valdosta died Monday, December 18, 2017 at South Georgia Medical Center. He was born in Valdosta on May 31, 1934 to the late Andrew Dalton, Sr. and Clifford Rudd Crosby. Mr. Crosby was a member of the Abundant Life Church and a veteran of the United States Air Force having served during the Korean Conflict. He was a well-known musician in Southern Gospel Music having been with the Smile A While Quartet, Stamps Baxter Quartet that later became the Georgian’s Quartet and later was a member of Naomi and the Sego Brothers Quartet. He played the organ and piano for the T. L. Lowery Camp Meeting Crusade. He formed Papa Joe and the Rest Band in Valdosta and played mostly in Pensacola, Florida. Mr. Crosby was a clerk with the Valdosta Fire Department. He was a great husband and father who believed in strong family ties. Mr. Crosby was the owner of Papa Joe’s and Someplace Else in Valdosta.
Survivors include two sons and a daughter in law, Joel and Melissa Crosby, Rick Crosby all of Valdosta; his grandchildren, Jared Crosby, Jeremy Crosby, Kaitlyn Crosby, Justin Crosby; his great grandchildren, Jonathan Crosby, Madison Crosby, Jordan Crosby; his brother in law, Gene Rollins of Wimauma, FL; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, LeVerne Owens Crosby, his brothers and sisters, Ruth Kierce, Louelle Rhoden, Frances Shaw, James Crosby, Sarah Rollins, A. D. Crosby, Jr., Clifford (Tete) Crosby, Margaret Townsend, Vera Royal.
Funeral services will be held at 2pm, Thursday, December 21, 2017 at the Abundant Life Church of God with Pastor Wayne Hughes and Pastor Wayne Owens officiating. Burial will follow in the Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 6-8pm at the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home.