Anna Jones, 66, Durham's "Cross Lady," died early this week at her home on Iredell Street. Last week, when she was not strong enough to sit up, she made15 crosses while lying down.

Jones, who was a retired nurse, began making the little pocket-size crosses, created from colorful plastic canvas and ribbon, in 1994. She never sold the symbols of her faith, but gave them away as her own special ministry. Just recently, she estimated that 250,000 of her crosses had been distributed worldwide.

Her friends think that if she had been able, she would have sent crosses to the new president and his family. That was her style. Just this past summer she sent 76 red, white and blue ones to President George W. Bush. She also included a blue one for the president's mother to wear with her blue dress and pearls.

Faye Bassett, a friend of Jones', said that even as her strength was waning in early December, she insisted on making 100 crosses for the toy store, an annual project of the Yates Baptist Association.

"I would come by every day and she would have a few more made," Bassett said. "I told her she didn't have to do this, but she insisted that she wanted to help as she had every year in the past."

Although Jones liked to discuss crosses, she never missed a chance to talk about Sir Rufus, her 4-year-old tuxedo cat. In a recent interview, she said Sir Rufus "talked his way" into her life. Friends are now looking for a new home for Sir Rufus.

In that same interview, she said, "My crosses are made with the prayer that they will be a blessing to the receiver. Receiving crosses is fun, but the real blessing comes from giving out the crosses and hearing what a blessing the recipient has received. To this I say that the giver also receives a blessing just knowing she has made someone feel better."

A graveside service was conducted Friday in Maplewood Cemetery by Dr. Harry Byrd, a retired missionary who for a time was her pastor at Westwood Baptist Church, and by Perry Norris, her next-door neighbor since 1950.

Norris said he had talked with Jones about her final wishes. In addition to his comments, Norris sang at the service. The selections included "Amazing Grace," her favorite hymn.