Family will receive friends on Monday, July 21, 2025 at 10:30am until time of Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul AME Church, 639 E. Long Street, Columbus, OH 43215

In Loving Memory

Known to be impatient at times, Torion William Cross departed this world way too soon, Monday, July 7th, 2025, at 30 years of age. Torion (or Tory) was born June 11,1995, to Reverend Tracy Leigh Cross and Diana Lee Follansbee, at OSU Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

Torion graduated from Columbus Alternative High School (CAHS) 2013 and attend Hocking College, in Nelsonville, Ohio, where he majored in Culinary. While attending CAHS, Torion was in the Jazz Band, Poetry Slam and Movie Club. Torion held various jobs in Nelsonville from Taco Bell, Verizon, Singular, Eaze and most recently Chase Bank.

Tory became active in Saint Paul AME Church, Columbus, Ohio, at the tender age of Two. When he joined the Angelic Choir, at age Four, he asked then Pastor, Rev. Michael R. Bean if he could become a member of the Church, after a particular service, at Seven, he participated in his first of ten, Matriculations at TAWAWA, at the age of Nine, he recited for the first of many times the, ‘I Have a Dream,’ speech by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., at the Black Labor Union of Columbus, Luncheon, and at 11, he joined the St. Paul, Male Chorus with his father, because of friction among his peers while in the Youth Choir, he also was a long time member of the St. Paul Players, Drama Troupe. As a Teenager, Tory won several Oratory Contests at Sunday School Conventions, and TAWAWA. Torion also was elected Third Episcopal District, Worship Leader, of the Young People’s Department (YPD) of Women’s Missionary Society (WMS) Ohio Conference YPD President, a devoted member of Allen Christian Endeavor, where through Christian Endeavor he was sent, free of charge to Eastern Pennsylvania, Summer Assembly (2006-2013) Lima Peru (Aug 2010,) and Sol Korea (Aug 2014). Torion had a true, natural passion for serving the Lord, in song, acting, praying and speaking/preaching, and made a point to make people be at ease with who they were.

Torion loved sports and games of all kinds, while in college he joined the Amateur Wrestling Association in SE Ohio, was relentless in playing, Dungeons & Dragons, Magic and any Xbox game around. Torion was a huge Buckeye fan, especially in football, he loved the New England Patriots, Kobe Bryant, and the Lakers.

Torion is preceded in death by his grandfather, Fredrick Cross, his grandmother Peggy Cross, step grandparents Dorsey & Jeanie Woodward, great grandmother Delight Woodward, great aunts; Anna Greene, Betty Harris, Mary Flint (Peaches), Betty Woodward, and Connie Anderson, great uncles; Fred Greene (Fritz), Frank Cross, Lindsey Woodward, Charles Roberts and Wilbur Harris, Uncle John Murray.

Tory leaves to cherish his memory his father, Rev. Tracy Cross, his mother Diana Boyes-Follansbee,(Frank), stepmother, Kia Reyes-Woodward, grandparents Charlotte Williams (Bob), great uncle Pete Lewis, great aunt Sharon Roberts, uncles; Terry Cross (Maureen), Ernie, Follansbee (Bonnie), James Follansbee, aunts; Toni Cross, Angel Follansbee, Kathy Murray, Kristy Pennington (Greg), Kim Clay (Keith), Kori Dickens (Floyd), Kish Lipscomb (Zra); sibling Kylie Cross, and a host of cousins, church family and friends.