Benjamin Ragon Cross

Benjamin Ragon Cross, lovingly known as Ragon to his family and friends and Ben to many of his coworkers, passed away on August 20, 2026, at the age of 77.

Born and raised in Greenville, Alabama, Ragon was the son of Cecil Bankston Cross and Fanny Maude Taylor Cross. He later made his home in Satsuma, Alabama, before settling in Gulf Shores.

To tell the story of Ragon’s life is to tell the story of a man who showed up. He was hardworking, dependable, kind, humble, generous, fiercely loving, and, by his own family’s loving admission, a perfectionist. If something needed doing, Ragon believed it should be done promptly, correctly, and preferably his way. He was happiest when he was working, building, fixing, helping, or figuring something out—and there was very little he couldn’t figure out.

His mother called him a “jack of all trades,” and it was a title he earned many times over. Ragon could build a house, wire it for electricity, rebuild a car, work on machinery, build motorcycles, create beautiful things from wood, and repair just about anything put in front of him. When he and his son Ben decided they wanted to sail, together they taught themselves how. He was endlessly curious and remarkably capable, and those who loved him knew that when something broke—or when life simply presented a problem—Ragon was usually the person to call.

That was especially true for his children. His son-in-law, Chris, often joked that if something needed to be done, he had better get to it quickly because otherwise Adrienne was going to “call her daddy.” And she would. Ragon was that person for each of his children: the phone call they could always make, the person who would come, the one who would know what to do. He loved them big, was always there when they needed him, and never wanted to be a burden to anyone.

Ragon began working hard at a young age. His first job was delivering papers with his dad then as a butcher in his hometown of Greenville. He later worked at Cross Printing in Fort Deposit alongside his beloved older brother, Cecil, and sister-in-law, Frieda. Ragon lost his father when he was only 13 years old, and Cecil and Frieda stepped into his life in ways that helped fill that tremendous loss. Their place in his heart remained special throughout his life.

Before beginning the career for which so many knew him, Ragon proudly served his country in the National Guard. He went on to spend 35 years with Alabama Power, retiring in 2015. His work ethic was legendary among those who knew him. Retirement did not necessarily come naturally to a man who genuinely loved to work. He was particular, efficient, independent, and determined to get the job done right.

But retirement gave Ragon something even more valuable: time.

For the last 11 years, he and his wife, Debbie Reynolds Cross, enjoyed the life they had spent so many years working to build. Ragon and Debbie met in Greenville, and Debbie quickly became a mother to his young children, Renee and Ben and they all welcomed Adrienne to the family several years later. Together, they built a marriage, a family, and a life that would span 45 years.

They traveled extensively after retirement, visiting nearly every state and making countless memories along the way. They especially loved traveling in their RV, often camping with their daughter Renee. Yet for all the places Ragon visited, two remained his favorites: home and his home away from home in the RV.

For Debbie, Ragon was her rock. She often said she felt safe simply because he was near. Whatever happened, Ragon could handle it. Whatever broke, Ragon could fix it. Whatever came their way, they would figure it out together.

Throughout his life, Ragon found something new to learn, build, ride, research, or master. As a younger man, he loved hunting with his family. He loved building and riding motorcycles. Later, he traded some of those rides for adventures on an electric bike. At one point, he even took up metal detecting. He loved history and could lose himself researching his family’s ancestry. He was a great storyteller, and some of the best stories from his younger years involved practical jokes, pranks, and more than a few cherry bombs.

Picking on someone was often one of Ragon’s ways of telling them he loved them.

He was also fiercely competitive, especially when cards were involved, and he successfully passed that trait along to his children. A family card game was never just a family card game when the Cross family was playing.

But above every hobby, every project, every trip and every accomplishment, Ragon loved his family.

He was a devoted husband, father, Granddad, brother, uncle, friend, coworker and neighbor. Since his passing, one description has been repeated again and again by those who loved him: he was their rock. Ragon was the person who showed up. If someone needed help, he was often the first one there. His generosity wasn’t simply something he talked about; it was something he lived.

Nowhere was that more evident than with his grandchildren. Madison, Macy, Dalton and Julia Ragon knew that Granddad could be persuaded into just about anything. All they had to do was take him by the hand and ask, and there was a very good chance they would soon be headed to the store.

Ragon’s faith was also part of the story he leaves behind. Not long before his death, he shared the story of his salvation with his daughter Adrienne. As a young boy attending a church revival, Ragon felt the Holy Spirit move him to answer an altar call. When he walked forward, his father followed him. Father and son accepted Christ that day. His father died not long afterward, making that shared moment of faith an especially precious part of Ragon’s story.

Today, that same faith offers hope to the family who must now learn how to live without the man they so often depended upon.

Ragon is survived by his beloved wife of 45 years, Debbie Reynolds Cross; his children, Benjamin Ragon Cross Jr., Renee Cross, and Adrienne Cross Rea and her husband, Chris Rea; and his grandchildren, Madison Cross Haley, Macy Cross, Dalton Cross, and Julia Ragon Rea.

He is also survived by his sisters, Janice Cross Thagard and Joy Cross Adams; his beloved sister (“in-law”) Frieda Brown Cross; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, friends and neighbors who were fortunate enough to be loved—and probably picked on—by Ragon.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil Bankston Cross and Fanny Maude Taylor Cross; his brother, Cecil Bankston Cross Jr.; and his sister, Mannie Frances Cross McClaine.

There are people whose absence changes the shape of a family. Ragon was one of those people.

His family will miss his stories and his practical jokes. They will miss his stubborn determination to do things the right way. They will miss the card games, the projects, the trips and the laughter. They will miss knowing that if something went wrong, they could call Ragon and somehow he would make it right.

Debbie will miss his love and the safety of simply knowing he was near. His children will miss being able to call their daddy. His grandchildren will miss taking Granddad by the hand and knowing that wherever they wanted to go, he would probably take them.

But the life Ragon built remains all around them—in the family he loved, the things he taught them, the problems he solved, the memories he made, the stories they will continue to tell, and the countless ways he showed the people in his life that they could always count on him.

He was their rock. And he was deeply, deeply loved.

Service information to follow.