Mrs. Bessie Ophelia Cobb Graves
Passed 01/22/2023
Ophelia was born on May 17, 1936, in Caswell County North Carolina, the daughter of the late Synda Williamson Cobb Williamson and Earlie Cobb. Ophelia graduated from Caswell County Training School and began working to help support her family. She developed a passion for baking early on and continued to enjoy and find relaxation from providing delicious meals for family and friends until her health declined. Her most sought after dishes were her bubbling hot baked macaroni and cheese and flaky crusted sweet potato pies. She joined the New Ephesus Baptist Church, of Ruffin, NC as a child and later joined and faithfully attended New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Greensboro, NC.
She married Leroy Graves December 24th 1962. They soon celebrated the birth of two children, Sharon Yvette and Sammy Earl. They lived close to family and friends in Yanceyville, until Leroy started his 30 year career at Lincoln Financial Group (Pilot Life) and they moved the family to Greensboro, where Ophelia was a dedicated and faithful worker for over 20 years at Sentry Hardware in Greensboro. She was preceded in death by her husband Leroy Graves, four brothers: Langston Cobb, George Cobb, Earl Cobb and Bobby Cobb; two sisters Mary Cobb Graves Yancey and Emma Cobb; and her son-in-law Theaster Mangum. Ophelia leaves to cherish memories of her love her two children Sharon Yvette Graves Mangum and Sammy Earl Graves (Tonya) both of Greensboro, NC; one sisters Lucinda Cobb Bigelow of Yanceyville, NC. and one sister in law Ruby Cobb (Earl) of Raleigh, NC; four grandchildren TJ Mangum (Whitney), Julia Mangum, Tamia Graves and Jeremiah Graves all of Greensboro, NC; one great grandchild Willow Mangum of Greensboro, and a host of family and friends.
Woodard Funeral Home is in charge of the funeral arrangements.
**Woodard Funeral Home is not affiliated with any other funeral homes.