Cloteal Scott Bobery

Age 86 of transitioned from this earthly life to eternal life on Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at Southern Hills Hospital.

Frances Cloteal Hawkins Scott Bobery was born on December 10, 1930, in Wynne, Arkansas, to Mary Cornelius Hawkins and Sug Buchanan. Raised in Wynne, Arkansas, she was affectionately known as “Toolum” and “Mudea” to her family and friends. Cloteal attended the Union Valley Missionary Baptist Church of Wynne, where she accepted Christ as her Lord and Personal Savior, at an early age. Cloteal attended Childress Combined School of Wynne, completing her education in 1947. It was during this time, immersed in the joys of small town living, surrounded by the love and affection of a close knit family, that she developed her phenomenal cooking skills and love of entertaining. These things were mainstays all of her life and through them, she provided great joy to her family and friends.

In 1947, a son, Charles Wesley “Charlie” Mason, was born to Cloteal and the late C.J. Bailey. She married her first husband, James Lee Scott on April 22, 1949. To this union, five children were born: Clarice, Regina Eloise “Jeannie”, Autrus Lee “Sonny”, Carl DeLoss “Collie”, and Cloteal Lynette “Linnie”. Cloteal also had two special sons, Melvin Pumphrey & Romarios Scott.

Cloteal loved her children. She always worked hard to provide for them. During her youth in Wynne, she held various jobs like picking and chopping cotton; laundress; and in food service at Troy’s Café. In 1962 she made the decision to relocate to Chicago, Illinois to provide a better life for her children. In 1963, she began working for the historic Y.M.C.A. Hotel, in the food service department, located at 826 S. Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL. She later worked in the office at the Y.M.C.A. Austin Avenue location. Affectionately known as “Scotty” among her co-workers, she worked 24 total years for the Y.M.C.A., retiring in 1987.

While in Chicago, she met the great love of her life, Bennie Wesley Bobery, Jr., her second husband. They married on May 16, 1981, in Chicago, Illinois, sharing their lives for a total of 23 years until his death in 1995. Bennie remained a source of strength and inspiration throughout their marriage.
Cloteal was an incredible baker, and, as previously mentioned, a phenomenal cook. Her family and friends always requested her famous “butterroll”. Even though she would rather not make them, she was famous for her caramel cakes. She would sell dinners, cakes and pies throughout her life, as people just could not get enough of the “Cake Lady’s” cooking.

Cloteal also LOVED entertaining. All who knew her would agree that her Christmas decorations were the best on the block. She hosted some of the greatest parties in the world, in her basement, at 6112 S. Hermitage Ave, Chicago, IL. When you heard the sound of Marvin Gaye, her favorite singer, ringing out, you knew you were in for a good time. She enjoyed games all her life; and was a Bid-Whist and Yahtzee warrior. Many card game tournaments went down at her parties. She was also a member of the Ladies of Charm Social Club from the 1970s until the 1990s, and hosted many events for the club.

In 2003, Cloteal relocated to Nashville, Tennessee to spend the rest of her retirement in milder weather. She spent the remainder of her years there, surrounded by her daughter Clarice, her son, “Sonny”, and their families.

Always a godly woman, after her relocation to Chicago, Cloteal attended the Greater Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, and Holy Zion Missionary Baptist Church. After her relocation to Nashville, Tennessee, she attended Lake Providence Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor H. Bruce Maxwell. Her favorite scripture was the 23rd Psalm. Her favorite hymn was “His Eye is on the Sparrow”.

Cloteal changed the life of everyone she met and was loved by all who knew her. She lit up every room she walked into, with her beautiful smile and infectious spirit. When she walked away, she left everyone with happy thoughts and the delightful scent of Shalimar, her favorite perfume.

Cloteal was preceded in death by her parents: Mary Cornelius Hawkins and Sug Buchanan; her sister, Rosena “Pee-wee” Hawkins Nauden; her brother, Cornell Buchanan; husband, Bennie W. Bobery, Jr.; sons: Carl DeLoss “Collie” Scott and Charles Wesley “Charlie” Mason; daughter, Regina Eloise “Jeannie” Scott Hampton; son-in-law, James “Jim” Roberts; and a great-granddaughter, London Nicole Woods-Scott.

She leaves to cherish her memory two daughters: Clarice Roberts of Nashville, Tennessee and Cloteal Lynette “Linnie” (Dwayne) Williams of Aurora, Illinois; one natural son, Autrus Lee “Sonny” Scott, of Chicago, Illinois; two special sons, Melvin (Doris) Pumphrey of South Holland, Illinois and Romarios (Karen) Scott of Woodridge, Illinois; daughter-in-law, Beverly Mason of Matteson, Illinois; two granddaughters, Tanya Mason of Chicago, Illinois and Lynette Brye of Aurora, Illinois; four grandsons, Brian Keith of Chicago, Illinois, Angelo Scott of Lisle, Illinois, Antione Scott and Kevin Scott both of Nashville, Tennessee; and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.

The Service of Committal and Interment will be in Chicago, IL at Mt. Hope Cemetery.