Kathryn Lamorris Bobbitt

Kathryn Lamorris Bobbitt, 93, of Indianapolis, passed away on July 15, 2022, in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was affectionally known to and referred by her family in the common southern vernacular as “Madea”. Because she had a heart of gold, others called her “Gold Baby”. Kathryn was an only child, born in Tunica, Mississippi to Reola and Samie Simmons on October 15, 1928. Kathryn loved school and started her early education at Lincoln Elementary School in Memphis, Tennessee. She later attended high school at Booker T. Washington High in Memphis, Tennessee.

She professed her hope in Christ at an early age, attending Greater Whitestone Baptist Church (Memphis, Tennessee) with her grandmother who was the Mother of the church. She loved to sing in the church choir. In recent years she worshiped with St. Matthews Church and donated too many church ministries.

Kathryn married John Tate in Memphis, Tennessee, and later was to wed and marry Benson Bobbitt in 1953, making their home in Memphis, Tennessee. Among her first jobs she worked as a Hostess and Secretary at Piccadilly’s, a famous and well-known restaurant in Memphis. Kathryn and Benson Bobbitt moved to Indianapolis and started Bobbitt’s Scavenger And Lawn Service in 1956. She partnered with Benson in running and expanding that business operation for over two decades. Amongst many things she loved doing was gardening, cooking, and fishing that were among her favorites, and not necessarily in that order. Undoubtedly, hosting family gatherings was her specialty. She absolutely loved bringing everyone together to enjoy her cooking, took great pleasure, and found ultimate joy, in watching people share her food, have fun and just be happy at her home. That’s when you saw her biggest smiles. As her health deteriorated, not being able to plant her garden and make big meals was a big disappointment to her. She was a kind-hearted and caring person and found it hard to say “no” to anyone. She enjoyed music and found it important to keep up on the news and current events. Kathryn was a devoted and loving mother and grandparent during her long life. She loved taking care of her grandkids and great grandkids. The door to her house was always open to anyone in need. With a loving smile, she often fondly joked that her home was “The Do Drop Inn” or “Kathryn’s Hotel and Motel”.

Kathryn was preceded in death by her parents, Reola and Sammie Simmons; grandparents Gertrude and Sam Wilburn; her favorite uncle, Morris Frazier, and sons, Charles Edward Simmons and Robert Simmons. Kathryn is survived by her sons, James W. Simmons, Kwame T. Mumina (Joyce Richardson); Morris T. Bobbitt and Bernard Bobbitt; her daughters, Jerry Lorraine Simmons-Smith, and Sharon Bobbitt Turner (Dexter); and her daughters-in-law, Karen Mumina-Powell, Marilyn Garrett Bobbitt, and Joyce Bobbitt-Edwards.

Kathryn had a full tribe of grandchildren and great-grandchildren likely to numerous to mention, she wouldn’t like that, so-- Janiessa, Monica, Chrissie, April, Shawnika, Robert Jr., Fred, Rhonda, Kelly, Shawn, Michael, LaTina, Zakiya, Damali, Kofi, Courtney, Jumoke, Dasia Bo, Judy, Adrian, Tamika, Maashaa’Allah, Charles Jr., Francesca, Irish, Kirsha, Taylor, Ahvana, Michael, Anayia, Daniel, Cameron Sr., Damon Jr., Aryhana, Cierra, Charles III, Jeremiah, Zoe, Dakota, Aubrianna, Cameron Jr, Samaria, Kwame, Subria, Niema, Naji, Nasir, Asha, Alaina, Malachi, Kensley, Jada, and Taj. Important to her also, Kathryn knows she is survived by a host of extended family and friends that she cherishes more than they could ever know,and wanted to say “goodbye” and she loves you.