Mr. Wendell Garfield Cross, age 87, of Mineral Bluff, GA passed away Monday, September 27, 2010 in the Heritage Healthcare Center in Blue Ridge. Mr. Cross was born in Cherokee County, NC on April 15, 1923 to the late Benjamin Gostrem Cross and Eva Mae Hughes Cross. He was a member of Pleasant Hill (Hardscrabble) Baptist Church and was a retired farmer. At the age of 69, he became an Ambassador of Adult Literacy for the State of Georgia. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eula Mae Roberson Cross and a son Ralph Cecil Cross. He is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Charles and Charlene Cross of Mineral Bluff, Randall Cross of Mineral Bluff, Winston and Gail Cross of Mineral Bluff, Benny and Gay Cross of Morganton, Henry Cross of Mineral Bluff, and Billy and Hazel Cross of Mineral Bluff; daughters and sons-in-law, Mary Lou and Lee Roy Dillard of Mineral Bluff, Betty Jean and Reid Tarpley of Mineral Bluff, Jeanette Cross of Mineral Bluff, Ruby Cross of Epworth, and Delores Cross of Mineral Bluff; brother and sister-in-law, Alvin and Betty Cross of Dallas, GA; sisters and brothers-in-law, Ruth and Melvin Parker of Dalton, Edith and George Quinn of Calhoun, Louise and Joe Voyles of Calhoun, Lucille and Ed Baggett of Calhoun, and Eloise West of Chatsworth; 18 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. from the Akins of Blue Ridge Chapel with Rev. Bill Johnson, Rev. Kenneth Montgomery, and Rev. Doyle Davis officiating. Music was by Phillip Thomas. Pallbearers were Roy Conner, Butch Anderson, Bill Payne, Zeke Henson, Randall Davis, Clyde O'Neal, and Ronnie Merrell. Honorary pallbearers will be Kenneth Tarpley, Charles Chore, Oscar Poole, Johnny Tarpley, Debbie Helton, Don Roberts, Arnold Winkler, Norman Kaye, Junior Mason, Jill Key, Lloyd Deal, Roy Clore, and Thaylon Stewart. Interment followed in Pleasant Hill (Hardscrabble) Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.akinsfuneralhome.com. Akins Funeral Home of Blue Ridge was in charge of arrangements. .