Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Ella Cook Mobley, 82, of 1736 Fuller St., Orangeburg, will be held 11:00 am Saturday, November 16, 2019 at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, Highway 4, Orangeburg, SC, with Brother Abraham Evans officiating.

Mrs. Mobley will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service. Mrs. Mary Ella Cook Mobley departed this life at her residence on Friday, November 8, 2019 after a brief illness. Mary, affectionately known by her family as “Lil’ Bit,” was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina on May 30, 1937 to the late Julius Cook, Sr. and Alma Abrams Cook.

Mary was a member of the Olive Grove Baptist Church at an early age.

Mary was educated in the public schools of Orangeburg County, South Carolina. In 1961, Mary graduated from Claflin College with her Bachelor’s Degree in the field of science.

Mary relocated to New York City after college, where she met and married her late husband, Mr. Elva M. Mobley. On September 3, 1966, Mary and Elva were married, and to this union, two children, La Tonya and Elva, Jr., were born.

On September 24, 1966, Mary was baptized as one of Jehovah’s witnesses and was a pioneer in the community, doing preaching work where she served for many years.

Mary then relocated to Orangeburg, South Carolina with her family, where she attended South Carolina State University and graduated with her Master’s in Education in 1983.

Mary went on to educate the children in Orangeburg County School District five and the Calhoun County, South Carolina school system. Mary was a strong advocate for children’s education and later became an educator at the Orangeburg Area Development Center (OADC). Mary earned recognition as employee of the year from 1992-1993. Mary retired on November 17, 2000 after giving many dedicated years of service.

Mary had five siblings that preceded her in death: Lorraine Cook, Sarah Cook, Leroy Cook, James Cook and Essie Mae Cook Milhouse.

Mary leaves to cherish her memory: her daughter, LaTonya R. (Virgil) Mobley Kirkland of Orangeburg, SC; son, Elva J. Mobley of Raleigh, NC; brother, Julius (Daisy) Cook, Jr. or Orangeburg, SC; sister-in-law, Genevieve Randolph of Greenville, SC; brothers-in-law: Arthur (Margaret Ruth) Paden of Greenville, SC and William (Mary J) Mobley of Greenville, SC; two grandchildren: Sejal A. Mobley and Colin B. Mobley of Washington, DC; two nieces reared in her home: Kristi N. Cook and Schellana M. Cook Bailey of Brooklyn, NY; special caregivers: Latitia, Taizharaun, and Paron Moorer, Doris Jennings, Rhonda and I’shelle Lee, Edward Moss and the staff of Amedisys Home Health Services; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held Friday, November 15, 2019 from 11:00am - 8:00pm.

Friends may call Simmons Funeral Home and Crematory of Orangeburg.