Obituaries

Lenora was born March 21, 1961, to the late Huey Bobo, Sr. and Gracie Covington Bobo in Helena Arkansas. She was raised in the Elaine and Helena, Arkansas communities.

Lenora was baptized at Mount Tabor Baptist Church, Helena Arkansas, at the young age of 11 under the leadership of the late Reverend E. C. Goldberry.

Lenora attended Eliza Miller School, West Helena Arkansas where she was a member of the Miller Junior High School Band from 1974 to 1976 under Mr. Minton. Her instrument of choice was the clarinet. She continued her formal education at Central High School, West Helena Arkansas where she joined the Central High School Band from 1976-1980 under the late Great Stanley Balch.  She broaden her musical talents by playing the clarinet and bass clarinet. She also performed as a rifle girl and on the color guard team.  She graduated from Central High School in 1980.

Later in life, Lenora still had an active role with the band. She supported the band by joining her daughters’ Band Booster Club. Affectionately known as “Mrs. Ross” to the band kids, she was the secretary of the club as well as a mom and friend to all of the Central High School Band students.

Lenora would go to work for the Helena -West Helena Food Service Department as a Secretary in August 1982 until her retirement 2011. She made history as the first African – American in Helena, Arkansas to hold this position.

Lenora married Melvin Ross, Jr. on April 28, 1984, at Long Lake Missionary Baptist Church, Helena Arkansas. This union also united her with Long Lake Church family under the leadership of the late Reverend W. M. Webster where she remained a member until 2005.  Lenora later moved her membership to First Missionary Baptist Church, West Helena Arkansas under Reverend Dr. Nathaniel Hull, Sr. She actively served on the Motherboard until her time of death.  Her wonderful smile and encouraging words will be missed by so many.

Lenora was preceded in death by her parents; Huey Bobo, Sr., Gracie Covington Bobo, father-in-law; Melvin Ross, Sr., a brother; Clyde Bobo, Sr., a sister; Lillian Bobo, and a God sister; Pamela Alexander Lofton Brown.

Lenora is survived by her husband of 38 years; Melvin Ross, Jr., her children; Vastenia (Ollie) Shaw, Katrina (Aaron M. Sr.) Ross Watson, Sebrina L. Ross, Demetrics (Keturah) Ross, grandchildren; Olivia Marie Shaw, Leah Michelle Shaw, Aaron M. Watson, Jr., Kaiden R. Watson, Alexis R. Watson, Tyler Moore Watson, Malachi Ross, Zuri Ross, Moshe Ross, Arianna Jones, Makenzie Dunhoo, daughter/niece; Angela Ross Harvey and her son Elton Tabbies, Jr., two brothers; Huey BoBo, Jr., Robert (Stephanie) Clark, Sr., four sisters; Sarah Clark, Carrie Clark, Ann Horton, Shemaine Bullard, mother-in-law; Carrie Mae Ross, sisters-in-law; Callie Bobo, Alberta Ross, Gloria O’Neal, brothers-in-law; Willie, Frank, Napoleon Ross, Goddaughters; Danielle Simon, Tiffany Webster, Leigh Lovelace, Jessica Boyd, Ashley Jones, Ashley Sims, Godson; Steven Williams, Calvin Neal, Godbrother; Houston Stackhouse, Jr., Godsisters; Debra Ann Johnson, Barbara Bryant, Betty (Edward) Lewis, Regina Simes, Godmother; Bennie Alexander, Godparents; Reverend Dr. Nathaniel and Helen Hull, Sr., and a host of uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, cousins, adopted children, and friends.