Lillie Sneed

Obituary of Mother Lillie B. Sneed September 23, 1905 – November 9, 2008 Lillie B. Sneed passed this life on November 9, 2008 at her home in Washington Village at the age of 103 years. She was born on September 23, 1905, twenty-eight years after the end of Reconstruction, in Newbern, Tennessee to Reverend John Oliver and Zeila Graham Oliver, now deceased. Born during the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, Lillie lived through the presidencies of eighteen men over twenty-six terms of office, and witnessed the election of the first American president of African descent. Lillie relocated to Ohio in the 1920s, first residing in Woodville where she met and married Jim Grisby. From this marriage one daughter was born. After the tragic accidental death of Jim, she moved to Toledo. While residing in Toledo, she married John Sneed. From this marriage, four children were born. . Mrs. Sneed witnessed all her children as adults occupy positions of responsibility and professionalism in communications, education, government, music, and the medical field. She was preceded in death by her husband John Sneed, son Melvin Sneed, daughter Margie G. J. Graham, grandson Robert Jordan, Jr., granddaughter Tonyia Jor’Dan, her brothers Elijah John and Willie D. Oliver, sisters Johnnie Zeila Mosely and Verna Mae Richardson. Mrs. Sneed was the oldest member of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. She saw the church grow from its meager beginnings on the former John R Street to its present Vance Street location. Under the pastorate of the late Rev. Elijah Benton, she was an active church supporter and a charter member of the church’s Nurses Guild, once holding the office of president during that time. During the course of her life, she was a member of the Women’s Federated Club—a group of Christian women dedicated to uplifting the spiritual and material worth of women through charity and education. Mrs. Sneed was a superb homemaker known for her innovative skills in home decoration, home food cannery, ceramic arts, gardening, sewing, upholstery, and as a chef of delicious cuisine. In the 1940s and ‘50s, homeless men, hearing about her kindness to strangers and charity, would stop by her home for delicious meals and/or a change of clothing. At her 100th Birthday celebration, a 13ABC News television interviewer asked her about the longevity of her life. Mother Sneed, as she was affectionately known, attributed her long life to the worship of her living God and the kind, loving treatment of people. In the final years of her life as her health declined, she had to depend on the kindness of family members, friends, and strangers who became friends. Mother Sneed’s family extends gratitude to the various home care agencies that attended her, especially Hospice of Northwest Ohio. To family friends Minnie Cheney, Glorasteen Newbern, Marjorie Hoskins, and Geneva Coates, the family graciously thanks you. A special thanks to Willet and Anne McCarver, whom Mother Sneed and Papa Sneed “adopted”. To niece Jeanette Lively and granddaughter Leah Sneed, who were present at the end to provide what was to be the final home care, deep love and thanks. Mother Sneed is survived by her son, Abdullahi Ibrahim Bin-Yahya, Toledo, OH; daughters, Jean E. Sneed, Los Angeles, CA and Janis L. Sneed-Deahl, Toledo, OH; cousin, Clara Coleman, Florissant, MO; sisters in-law, Lillian Ewing and Josephine Sneed, Toledo, OH; nephews, William, James and Gary Sneed, Toledo, OH; Albert and John Richardson, Toledo, OH; Julian and Eugene Oliver, Toledo, OH; nieces, Rose (Lubie) Wiggins, Inkster, MI; Flora Dean Scott, Toledo, OH; Alberta Banks, Lompoc, CA; Jeanette Lively, Toledo, OH; Carolyn Drayton, Toledo, OH; Betty (Terry) Love, Dyersburg, TN; Gloria Al-keeh, Minneapolis, MN; Mar’cia Lloyd, Chicago, IL; Regina Ewing, Toledo, OH; Renee Lott, Los Alamitos CA; Everlane Batey, Toledo, OH; Annie Moore, Nashville, TN; Janon Jordan, great-granddaughter; Kelly Carroll and Liberia Carter, step great-granddaughters, all of Los Angeles, CA; Randolph Jordan, great-grandson, Bronx, NY; 1 grandson, 2 granddaughters, 4 great-grandsons, 2 great granddaughters; 3 great-great grandsons; 2 great-great granddaughters and many other nephews, nieces, family members, and friends. Visitation will be Friday 3-6p.m. with wake services following 6-8p.m. Dale-Riggs Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services Saturday 11:30 a.m. Warren A.M.E. Church, Rev. Otis Gordon, Pastor, interment Historic Woodlawn Cemetery. www.dalefh.com .