Elsie Mobley

ELSIE MOBLEY walked through the valley of the shadow of death fearing no evil, for God was with her. In the light of day on March 13, 2006 she passed into the house of the Lord, where she will dwell forever. Born Elsie Mae Upshaw, the beloved daughter of the late Georgia Foy, she was born August 30, 1937 in a small town in Georgia. As an infant she traveled with her mother to Baltimore. She was lovingly raised by her maternal grandmother, Annie Mae Johnson and her mother. Upon graduation from Frederick Douglass High School in 1955, she later met and married Horace Ashby Jr., the father of her two children, Stephanie Ashby Roberts and Anthony Ashby. This union ended in divorce. She then united again in marriage July, 1983 to Law Mobley, Jr. who preceded her in death July 1998. Elsie was employed by the Baltimore Housing Authority Relocation for several years. She left to start a business venture with her husband to open what became a successful nursery school. This left her time to pursue a life dream of earning a college degree from Coppin State in 1973. She taught second and third grade at Pimlico Elementary School in Baltimore City until her retirement in 1993. Elsie knew the secret to living the "good life"... living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time. Those of us who hold her dear to our hearts watched a woman accepting hardship as a pathway to peace. Taking as Jesus did this sinful world as it is, not as she would have it. Trusting that God will make all things right for her and those who she loved. To have known Elsie was to have met a phenomenal woman, breezing through the good life she enjoyed, getting things done and making people happy. Still managing to own and operate a successful nursery school business and teaching elementary school until her early retirement, and earning a college degree in the later years of her life were only a few of her many noteworthy accomplishments. Always making the time to cook holiday dinners bringing together in love and fellowship her children and three grandsons she cherished. These were special moments she looked forward to that gave her much joy and happiness. Elsie lived a blessed life, for she was able to surround herself with all the niceties of life which truly brought her much comfort and contentment. "Don't sweat the small stuff," said Elsie. For she had found the greatest gift from above, a second chance to find that soulmate to offer completion to the happiest phase of her life And, so as a widow Elsie knew life rarely turns out exactly as you've planned. For she did enjoy what life brought to her. Knowing that she did not have much longer to live she was relieved in knowing her son and daughter stuck by her with undaunted love when she needed them the most. They both were there. Whatever she set her mind to do, Elsie got it done with no regrets. She lived this journey well, living the "good life" able to reflect back on family celebrations, and holidays, cookouts, dinners, socializing with co-workers, playing her favorite card game pinochle, traveling and especially laughing with her best friends. Elsie enjoyed shopping, going to the movies and taking trips with her friends, fondly known as the "ebony girls." Elsie was the matriarch of her family. The glue that held us all together. We often times found ourselves coming to her for help and advice. She was always there as a supportive shoulder to lean on, listening and offering words of encouragement, getting us through life's toughest moments. "Tis a time to be born and a time to die. This is Elsie's time. Elsie was happy and did well while she lived her journey. She was made ready to surrender this life with GOD granting her the serenity to die being supremely happy with HIM." May she long be remembered as a virtuous woman of wisdom "liken to the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley" an inspiration, a loving mother, proud grandmother. and devoted wife. Loving thy neighbor as thyself, a forever friend, a teacher who touched the lives of her students and a sister who took the silent way to live the "good life," knowing we only come this way once. In parting words from Elsie to us she would say... "When tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not there to see If the sun should rise and find your eyes, all filled with tears for me, I wish so much you wouldn't cry the way you did today... And each time that you think of me I know you'll miss me too. But when tomorrow start without me, please try to understand, That an angel came and called my name, and took me by the hand. And said my place was ready, in heaven far above, And that I'd have to leave behind all those I dearly love. But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye, For all my life, I'd always thought, I didn't want to die. I had so much to live for, so much yet to do, It seemed almost impossible, that I was leaving you. I thought of all the yesterdays, the good ones and the bad, I thought of all the love we shared, and all the fun we had. If I could relive yesterday just even for a while, I'd say goodbye and kiss you and maybe see you smile. But then I fully realized, that this could never be, For emptiness and memories, would now take the place of me. So when tomorrow starts without me, don't think we're far apart, for every time you think of me, I'm right here, in your heart." Elsie leaves to cherish her memory: loving children, Stephanie and Tony; three grandsons, Jason, Phillip and Andrew; one step-granddaughter, Tayla; two sisters, Anne Foy and Deborah Jones; four brothers, Norman, Donald, Alvin and George Foy; two daughters-in-law, Anita Watson and Mona Ashby; three stepsons, Law III, Michael and William Mobley of Atlanta, Georgia; goddaughter, Yetty Goodin; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

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Elsie Mobley

August 30, 1937 - March 13, 2006