Marsha Crosby

Marsha Arlene Happy Crosby, age 85 of Dayton, Ohio passed away on August 27, 2024.  Born on December 22, 1938, she was the cherished daughter of the late Raymond and Virgie Mae Happy.

Marsha began her academic journey at Wogaman Elementary School, then proceeded to Roosevelt High School.  She attended Central State University under a Music Scholarship. Marsha retired from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base after many years of service. Marsha served as the Music Director for Macedonia Baptist Church for 35 years. As the Music Director of both the Senior and Youth Choirs, she instilled in everyone the discipline of being a part of a Choir. One of her favorite sayings was “Don’t worry about the people; open your mouth and sing”.  She spent many years teaching piano lessons at Happy’s Gospel Music Studio, which was one of the first Black Music Studios in the city of Dayton. Marsha also had a very prominent soprano voice. She sang in the Dayton Community Choir; a choir created by Jim Johnson and her sister Lucile Happy. She also sang in one of the most popular groups in Dayton called The Reid Sisters.

Marsha was proceeded in death by her husband, Samuel Crosby Sr, her sister and brother-In-Law Luvenia and Jimmy Briggs. 

A woman of faith, she is survived by her daughter Cheryl (Dennis) Copeland, son Leonard (Jamaica) Gaffney, son Raymond Gaffney; sisters Lucile Happy, Vonnie Happy; Grandchildren, Diondra Copeland, Breanna Copeland, Raeshaun Gaffney, Marcellus Copeland, Ryan Gaffney; Nephews, Jonathan Briggs, D’Juan Briggs.

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