Toby Crosby (abt. 1854 - 1976)

Born about 21 Jan 1854 in South Carolina, United States

Husband of Lula R. (Mixon) Crosby — married about 27 Nov 1911 in Florida, United States

Died 25 May 1976 at about age 122 in Florida, United States

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Biography

122-Year-Old Dies Following Stroke

Palatka, Fla. (AP) - I can't get around, but I preach. "Lordy, I preach," The Rev. Toby Crosby said just a few months ago. He was 122 years old.

His career as a preacher ended two weeks ago when he was hospitalized after a stroke. He died Tuesday.

Born a slave in South Carolina, The Rev. Mr. Crosby was recogized by a sociatized centenarians to Columbius, Ohio, last year as the second-oldest American, behind Charlie Smith of Bartow, Fla. Smith is 133.

For many years, The Rev. Mr. Crosby's birthday celebration in January was a major event in this little north Florida community.

A minister for most of his adult life, The Rev. Mr. Crosby was pastor of the Lily of the Valley church here, which he described as nondenominational.

He was best known in black circles as a speaker at church conferences around the country, especially for the Church of Our Lord of the Apostolic Faith.

He continued his travels and speaking engagements nearly to the end, though his eyesight had already failed and his hearing was impaired.

"The Lord didn't give me no time to retire," he said last fall. "I'm on His job. He can stop me when He gets ready.

The Rev. Mr Crosby is survived by his widow, Lula, two sons, John and Nathaniel of Palataka; and a daughter, Lovie Mathews of Lake Wood N.J.

Funeral Arrangements were incomplete.

Published in The Odessa American, Wednesday, May 26, 1976, Page 2A ^[1]

Interview

Interview of Rev. Toby Crosby and wife Lyla by M. Hansinger on 2/17/76 in Palatka; Multiple: Rev. Toby Crosby, Lyla Crosby - George A. Smathers Library, UFDC Home - Florida History ^[2]

• Transcription of a taped interview, about 37 pages......an interesting read. However, it looks like the transcriber may have had problems understanding Toby on the tape.

Death

Find A Grave Memorial #128790125 ^[3]

Other

U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; ancestry.com ^[4]

Biography & Genealogy Master Index (BGMI); ancestry.com ^[5]

Press Photo

Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center - Press photo of Rev. Toby Crosby and his wife standing outside ^[6]

Publications

Beckley Post-Herald (Beckley, West Virginia), 2 Sep 1971, Thursday, Page 13 - Man, 117, Still "Preachin" Gospel; newspapers.com ^[7]

Naples Daily News, Sun., Jan. 23, 1972 - The Rev. Toby Crosby of Palatka, His 118th Birthday Party Really Special; ancestry.com ^[8]

News-Press (Fort Myers, Florida), 20 Jan 1974, Sunday, Page 32; newspapers.com^[9]

Naples Daily News, Tues., Jan 21 1975 - Minister Turns 121 Again Says 'I Do'; ancestry.com ^[10]

Naples Daily News, Jan. 22, 1975 - 121-Year-Old Reverend and Wife Repeat Vows; ancestry.com ^[11]

Daytime TV schedule - Naples Daily News, Sun., Apr. 20, 1975 - 10:00 A.M., Channel 9, Black Is - 121-yr-old minister Toby Crosby; ancestry.com ^[12]

The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), 26 Oct 1975, Sunday, Page 1 - Retire at 121? Not Rev. Toby; newspapers.com ^[13][14]

Press and Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton, New York), 21 Jan 1976, Wednesday, Page 25; newspapers.com ^[15]

Residence

U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 (1924); ancestry.com ^[16]

U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 (1928); ancestry.com ^[17]

U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 (1948), ancestry.com ^[18]

Research Notes

U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; ancestry.com ^[19]

Florida Marriages, 1837-1974 (Lula Mixon); familysearch.org ^[20]

United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918; familysearch.org ^[21]

1930 Census; Lakeland, Polk, Florida; familysearch.org ^[22]

Florida State Census, 1935; Palatka, Putnam, Florida; familysearch.org ^[23]

Florida State Census, 1945; Palatka, Putnam, Florida; familysearch.org ^[24]

1950 Census; Palatka, Putnam, Florida; familysearch.org ^[25]

Sources

1. ↑ Newspapers.com, 122-Year-Old Dies Following Stroke. Also, have a copy of this obituary on file.
2. ↑ Multiple: Rev. Toby Crosby, Lyla Crosby
3. ↑ Find A Grave
4. ↑ U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
5. ↑ Biography & Genealogy Master Index (BGMI)
6. ↑ Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center
7. ↑ Beckley Post-Herald (Beckley, West Virginia), 2 Sep 1971
8. ↑ Naples Daily News (Naples, Florida) (1972)
9. ↑ News-Press (Fort Myers, Florida), 20 Jan 1974
10. ↑ Naples Daily News (Naples, Florida) (1975)
11. ↑ Naples Daily News (Naples, Florida) (1975)
12. ↑ Naples Daily News (Naples, Florida) (1975)
13. ↑ The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), Page 1
14. ↑ The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Florida), Page 2
15. ↑ Press and Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton, New York
16. ↑ U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
17. ↑ U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
18. ↑ U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
19. ↑ U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
20. ↑ Florida Marriages, 1837-1974
21. ↑ United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
22. ↑ 1930 Census; Lakeland, Polk, Florida
23. ↑ Florida State Census, 1935; Palatka, Putnam, Florida
24. ↑ Florida State Census, 1945; Palatka, Putnam, Florida
25. ↑ 1950 Census; Palatka, Putnam, Florida