Stella Mae Clarrette Hobbs received the gift of life on the 8th day February 1926. She returned the gift peacefully as she transitioned to Glory on Sunday, the 26th day of July , 2020 at the wonderful age of 94 years, 5 months and 18 days.
Stella was born in Fairfield, Freestone County, Texas to Bunion and Frankie Johnson Clarrette. Her father was a carpenter by trade and her mother a homemaker. The family moved to Fort Worth in the summer of 1933 with her three siblings. Stella began her formal education at the old Dunbar Elementary School that still stands today on Willie Street, and has been converted into a museum in the Stop Six Community of Fort Worth, TX. She graduated from the segregated and historic I.M. Terrell High School in 1945. During the Jim Crow era, Stella had to board a city bus and travel all the way to I. M. Terrell High School from which she graduated in 1945.
After High School graduation, Stella also attended school at Dickerson School of Beauty Culture. She loved her work as a beautician and for many years operated a beauty shop built by her husband in the rear of their home. In later life while still a dedicated business woman, she decided to return to school and received an Associate Degree in early childhood education from Tarrant County Junior College.
Stella met her future husband at the age of 15 when he came to Fort Worth in 1941 to visit his sister who lived next door to her family. John, referred to as J.W., was on his way to the Army to serve his country in WW II. John returned from the war in 1945 and swept Stella off her feet in a whirlwind romance. She became Mrs. John Wesley Warren Hobbs in July of that same year.
Stella accepted Christ at a very young age. Her Christian experience began when she united with the Antioch Baptist Church with her parents. After marriage, she joined St. James A.M.E. church, where she worked as the Church Secretary, and held other offices throughout the church. After her husband expired, she moved her membership to be with her children to the Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Arlington, TX under the Leadership of the Late Pastor N. L. Robinson and now Pastor James P. Thompson Jr. Stella remained a faithful member of the Senior Sunday School class and loved the annual VIP events as she looked forward to them every year until her health failed. She was so excited when the Mount Olive Ministers would bring the Lord's Supper monthly.
Stella's interest included family, reading, managing her personal documents, notary, crocheting dollies, caring for people in the community, and especially caring for her grandchildren. Stella even got on a plane and traveled to Europe to care for her grandchildren. Her greatest joy throughout the years has been her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Stella even got on an airplane alone in her mature years and traveled to Europe to care for her grandchildren when her daughter, Sandra needed her so she could perform her Air Force duties as an Officer without worry. None of the family will ever forget Stella's sought out "Peach Cobbler."Her pies were the bomb and family, friends, and neighbors could never get enough.
Mrs. Hobbs is survived by one son, Warren Bunyon Hobbs (Janice) Arlington, TX; and four daughters; Johnnie Mae Durham (Travis) Flower Mound, TX; Virginia Lynn Edmondson (Charles) Duncanville, TX ; Sandra Tharan Gilliam (Stanley) Fort Worth, TX; and Dorene Yvonne Wheatley (Robert Deceased) Savannah, TX.; 16 Grandchildren; 34 Great grandchildren; and 4 Great-Great Grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins and friends.
She is preceded in death by her husband, John Wesley Warren Hobbs (8/17/1986)
Parents Bunion and Frankie Clarrette ; Her sister Margaret James (Doll)
Two brothers ( Major Clarrette (Sonny); Howard Clarrette (Moody); Son-in-law, Robert Louis Wheatley; Great-Granddaughter, Jamaica Durham
Stella is the last survivor of her family and the oldest of her siblings. Her entire family is waiting at the gates of heaven to greet her!
Funeral Services will be Livestreamed via Facebook: Mt. Olive Baptist Church Arlington and YouTube: MOBC.org
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18