Evelyn C. Mobley

Evelyn Celeste Mobley, affectionately known as “Celeste” or “Lessy”, is the third child of four children born to the late Mr. Rudolph James, Sr., and Mrs. Flora Mae James in Jacksonville, Florida on November 15, 1952. Evelyn received her early education in the Duval County Public School system, graduating from Samuel C. Wolfson Senior High School in 1970.

Evelyn met the love of her life, Leonard T. Mobley in the halls of Wolfson Senior High School in 1969. They were smitten and fell in love. Leonard pursued, they courted, and she said yes! On June 8, 1973, they were united in Holy Matrimony. They shared 41 years of marital bliss until his untimely passing on December 13, 2014.

Evelyn began her career with the Duval County Public School system on March 17, 1975, rendering 50 years of dedicated service. She worked at various schools, including Mary McCleod Bethune Elementary, Samuel C. Wolfson Senior High, Matthew Gilbert School, Douglas Anderson High School, and Julia Landon Middle School. She absolutely loved her Julia Landon family, where she spent the last 40 years, and was the longest tenured employee at the time of her demise.

“Celeste” – The Queen of Our Family was a true Queen! She was also a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. She never met a stranger and always had a smile on her face. Celeste was a woman of many words and always had something positive to say to anyone needing an encouraging word. She loved online shopping, especially Amazon, going to garage sales, road tripping, purchasing expensive fragrances and purses, and fine dining. She really enjoyed spending time with her family at various cookouts and family functions. She always celebrated life! Celeste took great pride in her children and especially her grandkids, who affectionately called her, “Granny”.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Mr. Leonard T. “Fish” Mobley; her father and mother, Mr. Rudolph James, Sr., and Mrs. Flora Mae James; brother, Rudolph James, Jr.; maternal grandparents, Mr. Wallace and Mrs. Laura Bell Tarver; her paternal grandparents, Mr. Lemuel Sr., and Mrs. Maggie James; uncles, Mr. Lemuel James, Jr., Mr. Fred James, Sr. and Mr. Wallace Tarver, Jr.; aunts, Mrs. Irene Tolliver, Mrs. Ethel Paul, Mrs. Janie McCoy, and Mrs. Wilhelmina Hayes; mother-in-law, Mrs. Juanita Lee Mobley; father-in-law, Rev. Albert Mobley, Sr.; sisters-in-law, Ms. Glenise Mobley and Ms. Annette Mobley-Crawford; brothers-in-law, Mr. Vincent Mobley, Sr., Mr. Cedric Mobley, Mr. Andre Williams, Sr., and Mr. Anthony Mobley, Sr.

Our God who gives life has the right to call his own unto himself, and on Tuesday afternoon, March 18, 2025, Evelyn Celeste Mobley was called home to her eternal resting place from labor to reward.

She leaves to cherish her memory, her children; Antonio (DeShantra), Vonkesta, Yuneisha, Lynedra and Theodore; grandchildren, Antonio Jr., Ajajuan, Genesis, Brilon, MaKenzie, Theorie, Yami, Jalen, Michael, and Daterria; sisters, Rutricia F. O’Berry (Malachi), and Eileen “Yvette” Williams (Andre, Sr.-deceased); aunts, Ethel James (Fred-deceased), Jenniefred Douglas, Joshlyn Walker, Renee Telfair (Harold) and Regina Phillips (Floyd); brothers-in-law, Albert, Jr., (Carla), Andrew (Jeanette) and Micheal; sisters-in-law, Sandra, and Rivannah (Stewart); 1 godson, Evan Daniels; 1 goddaughter, Shakerah Matthews; special sons, Amil Dequan Rogers, Levistio Blount, and Marshall Rivers; special daughters, Ronica Willams, Toyshia Ridley, Chanta Carbert, Cherlyn Jenkins and Paulette Hardy; close friends, Gwendolyn Smith, Rosebud Wingard, R’Nee Martin, Kathy Curry, Tina Jacobs, Sharon Thomas; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and sorrowing friends.