Rev. William Alexander Crosland Ordained Minister Honorably Retired Anyone who ever received an email, letter or business card from Reverend William A. Crosland (Bill) would see his tag line “Ordained Minister · Honorably Retired.” No doubt his use of this phrase stemmed from his love of the Presbyterian Church which he served for almost 50 years, first as a pastor and later as a campaign consultant for the Church Financial Campaign Service.
Bill also laid claim to being honorably retired after 27 years of service in the Chaplain Corps of the U.S. Naval Reserve in which he held the rank of Captain.
Bill served as a pastor to churches in Fairfield, AL; New Orleans, LA; Austin, TX; Vidalia, GA; Laurel, MS; Buford, GA; and Atlanta, GA.
Bill died April 19th 2015 in his home in Sandy Springs, GA.
A memorial service will be held at Central Presbyterian Church in Atlanta on Sunday, May 3rd at 2:00 PM.
Born March 1st 1928 in Atlanta, GA to William Alexander and Dell Owen Crosland, Bill grew up in the Virginia Highlands neighborhood. After graduating from Boys High School in Atlanta, Bill earned an undergraduate degree in English from Davidson College (A.B. Cum Laude, 1949) and received a Master of Divinity (Cum Laude, 1952) from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA.
Additional graduate work was completed in 1972 at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Interdenominational Theological Center, and Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta, GA.
He was active in the Kiwanis Club (past president of the Buford chapter), and in the Davidson College Alumni Association. Bill loved music which included playing the French horn, and singing in the Davidson Male Chorus, the Gwinnett Choral Guild and the Central Presbyterian Church choir.
Bill, also fondly known as Daddy Bill, is survived by his wife of 62 years, Charlotte Allsmiller Crosland.
He is also survived by his children, Bill Crosland, Ed Crosland, David Crosland, Dudley Crosland and Catherine Crosland Leiner, 9 grandchildren and his sister Audrey Joyce Crosland Hammond.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Central Presbyterian Church Music and Liturgical Arts Fund (www.cpcatlanta.org).
Online condolences may be made at hmpattersonspringhill.com.