Mrs. Celesta Washington Crosby, age 94, was born to the late Samuel Washington and Arie Hawkins Williams on January 10,1929 in Bartow, Florida. She died peacefully on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at home. She was a lifelong resident of Bartow.

Celesta was raised and educated in Bartow at Union Academy Elementary and High Schools and graduated as a proud member of the Union Academy High School Class of 1945. She later matriculated to Claflin College in Orangeburg, South Carolina. After transferring to South Carolina State College (now University) she obtained her Bachelor of Science and Master's Degrees in Elementary Education prior to beginning a long and rewarding career as an educator.

On December 28, 1949, she was united in Holy Matrimony to Mannie Crosby. This union was blessed with two sons, the late Reginald Crosby who attended South Carolina State College and Garry Crosby who attended Southern University.

Celesta began her career as a educator in Crenshaw, Florida. She returned to Polk County and taught in Fort Meade, then Bartow and at Union Academy Elementary School. She later taught at Gibbons Street Elementary School before retiring from Floral Avenue Elementary School. After retirement, she served as a tutor for many years.

She was a woman of great faith who loved God and her church. She joined Mount Gilboa Missionary Baptist Church in 1937 at the age of eight years under the leadership of the late Rev. Dr. A. L. Washington. She later joined the First Providence Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. J. W. Frison. She served as a dedicated member of the choirs and as a Sunday School teacher.

Celesta faithfully served her community for many years through membership in the Polk County Retired Teachers' Association and the Bartow Branch of the NAACP.

Mrs. Crosby cultivated, nurtured, developed and mentored numerous young minds and has truly been an asset and a blessing to her hometown of Bartow which she loved. She was quite the unofficial historian of her family and had impeccable personal knowledge of the students she taught. The city of Bartow proclaimed January 10, 2019, Celesta Washington Crosby Day in recognition of her long life and contributions to her hometown.

She leaves to cherish her memory her son: Garry Crosby of Bartow, Florida; sister: Vendarae (Clif) Lewis; granddaughters: Tanisha Mathis, Fallon Crosby, Kennedi Crosby and Kendra Crosby; grandson: Julius Gerod Crosby; great grandsons: Tyler Mathis and Danielmon Crosby; great granddaughter: Jesse Lynn Crosby Bell; Beverly Pringle along with a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation with family will take place at Gause Funeral Home from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM, Friday, May 12, 2023. Funeral service will be held at First Providence Missionary Baptist Church at 11:00 AM, Saturday, May 13, 2023.

Interment will be at Wildwood Cemetery.