Caroline Jones Cross

Caroline Jones Cross of Franklin, Tennessee, died on November 1, 2026, following a long and active life. She was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on July 16, 1931, to the late Ruth Forrest Jordan and late Tom Fox Jones.

Her husband, James William Cross III, preceded her in death in 1993. She traveled to Germany while he was serving in the U.S. Army, and they married in Heidelberg in January 1955. She was a substitute teacher at the school of USAEUR headquarters while he was stationed there. Over the years she continued to stay in touch with the family in Germany from whom she and her husband rented an apartment. The Crosses had two children, Amy Cross Nance (Rex) and James William “Jim” Cross IV, (Jenny) and two grandchildren, Madeline Cross Heaner and James William “Will” Cross V.

She graduated from Hillsboro High School. Then she became a home economics major at David Lipscomb College and taught in the college’s home economics department after graduation and before her marriage. In 1986 the family endowed a chair in that department in her honor.

In 1958, Mrs. Cross and her husband incorporated Century Construction, which is still operating under the leadership of their son, James William Cross IV (Jim) and grandson Will. Mrs. Cross was a full partner and worked alongside her husband in the company. They were also full partners in life and in their civic and church activities. Mr. Cross was a visionary in seeing and helping to bring to reality the development of Franklin from a sleepy little town to the vibrant community that it is today.

Mrs. Cross abided by the wisdom of her Grandfather Jordan, who literally believed that what you have belongs to God. She gave of her time, energy, funds, and knowledge in various civic endeavors. She wrote a biography, A Delightful Life, in 1998 with the help of editor Dimples B. Kellogg, in which she shared her love of life, especially for the benefit of her grandchildren, who never knew their grandfather.

Her father was a charter member of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ Association. Mrs. Cross, her husband, and their children became active in the Walking Horse Owners’ Association. In a groundbreaking move in 1980, the Cross family was invited to exhibit two Walking Horses at the Royal Olympia Horse Show in London.

Mrs. Cross was one of the founders of Leadership Franklin (1997), and she served as the executive director on a volunteer basis for sixteen years. She served as chairman of the second Heritage Foundation Ball at Carnton and as president of the Heritage Foundation. She served on the first Carnton board and acquiring the property; she founded the first Carter House Candlelight Tour of Historic Homes in Williamson County; she founded the Spring Town and Country Tour of Homes for the Heritage Foundation both of these tours; she served as chairman of the Carter House Antique Show APTA; she was on the board of Carter House APTA; she served on the fund-raising committee of the first YMCA in Williamson County in Brentwood; she was on the first board of Franklin YMCA; a board member of the World Christian Broadcasting Company for twenty-one years; served on the committee to plan the John Miller Equine Arena at MTSU; a member of Colonial Dames and the Daughters of American Revolution and appointed to the Tennessee Historical Commission. She was a member of the Advisory Board of Visitors for Battle Ground Academy and a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club. She is a direct descendant of Dr. Thomas Walker who named the Cumberland River and Cumberland Gap. She was a generous donor to many local initiatives including the Leadership Franklin Scholarship Fund and the Williamson County Library Foundation. A lifelong member of the Church of Christ, she was one of the founders of Heritage Church of Christ in 2003.

The family had a house at Monteagle Sunday School Assembly for thirty-eight years. Mrs. Cross served on the Education Committee that awarded scholarships to Grundy County students for many years.

Mrs. Cross was known for her hospitality and often entertained visitors to Tennessee. In 2003 her dinner guests were the president of Madagascar and his entourage plus twenty-seven students from that country, who came to the United States to attend Lipscomb University. Mrs. Cross was instrumental in getting the students to the United States and into Lipscomb University, where they earned four-year degrees.

Traveling was one of Mrs. Cross’s favorite activities, whether it was to Africa, Russia, London, or South America. She loved sport fishing in Boca Grande, Florida, for 25 years, as much as she loved to read a good book or collect antiques on many trips to England.

Mrs. Cross received many awards and recognition for her civic activities including fund-raising for major projects in Franklin: the Distinguished Leadership Award from the Franklin Business Leadership Council; the Lipscomb Center for Leadership Excellence; Distinguished Alumnus Award from Lipscomb University; Williamson Christian College honored her for her community leadership; the Franklin Tomorrow Leadership Award; on the tenth anniversary of Leadership Franklin, Mayor Tom Miller proclaimed Caroline Cross Day.

Her favorite words about success in life come from Ralph Waldo Emerson: “To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others. . . . To leave the world a bit better place, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”

Mrs. Cross recited these words of Emerson at the beginning of each Leadership Franklin class and also at each class’s graduation.

Mrs. Cross was devoted to family, home, and friends. Survivors include her children: Amy Cross Nance (Rex) and James “Jim” William Cross IV (Jenny McCain); and grandchildren: Madeline Brandau Cross Heaner (Gardner) James William (Will) Cross V (Mary Michael), Whitney Nance Munn and great-grandchildren, Caroline Heaner, James William “Will” Cross, VI, Elizabeth Heaner, Ethan Munn and Kylie Munn and sister: Linda Ruth Jones Biggs and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Sister, Mary Virginia Jones Anderson (Clive) predeceased her. Rosemary Smithson for her dedication to our family. Appreciative of the loving care from her caregivers Snow King, Christina Potts and John Grzegorczyk.

Visitation will be held Friday November 6, 2026 at Heritage Church of Christ from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. 1056 Lewisburg Pike, Franklin, Tennessee. A service celebrating the life of Mrs. Cross will be held 3:00PM Saturday, November 7, 2026 at Heritage Church of Christ. Interment Woodlawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Heritage Church of Christ, 1056 Lewisburg Pike, Franklin TN 37064 or Leadership Franklin-Caroline Cross Scholarship Fund, PO. Box 682404 Franklin, TN 37068. WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, 615 794-2289. www.williamsonmemorial.com