The Cromeans Family Story

Dr. Joe G. Cromeans, was born July 11, 1928 in Memphis, Tennessee and graduated from Columbia Military Academy as Valedictorian in 1946. He obtained his B.A. from Vanderbilt University in 1950 and earned his M.D. from Vanderbilt University in 1953. He then completed a rotating internship at the University of Texas-Galveston from 1953 to 1954. He had two years of Surgery with 5001st USAF Hospital in Fairbanks, Alaska from 1954 to 1956.  Upon leaving, Dr. Cromeans received an honorable discharge as a captain.

Mary Ann Parks was born July 23, 1931 in Nashville, Tennessee. She enjoyed playing the piano and had a deep love for horses. She graduated from Peabody College in Nashville where she met Joe G. Cromeans, and they were married on December 21, 1952.

Mary Ann and Joe then moved to Scottsboro, Alabama in 1957 where Joe practiced medicine. He delivered over 4,000 babies in Jackson County Hospital, performed General Surgery, and had a remarkably busy office Practice. His own father had practiced medicine for 67 years in Belmont, Mississippi where Joe grew up.  IN 2003, the Medical Association of the State of Alabama recognized Joe for his 50th year practicing medicine. During his tenure as a respected medical professional, he was a member of the American Medical Association and the Jackson County Medical Society as well as being on the staff of Jackson County Hospital in Scottsboro.

Mary Ann was highly active in Scottsboro as well, serving as President of the Scottsboro Music Study Club, which performed choral programs and gave scholarships to high school students. She also devoted much of her time serving as Director of the Jackson County Historical Association and the Scottsboro-Jackson Heritage Center. A particularly enthusiastic and especially creative figure in the community, she possessed a love for old buildings and the organization, where she volunteered countless hours.

Mary Ann and Joe had two sons, Gray in February of 1960 and Randall in April of 1962. Gray played the piano and tenor saxophone while Randall studied theatre and travelled to London, England in 1982. Gray helped his father by managing his father’s shopping center and working at the clinic on occasion. Later, his father taught him about investing, and Gray went on to manage his family’s portfolio of stocks and bonds.