Cornelia Moorehead

March 27, 1926 – September 1, 2018

Service

Saturday, September 15, 2018
Visitation: 10:00 A.M.
Funeral Service: 12:00 Noon

St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church
1404 South Georgia Street
Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Interment
Forest Lawn Cemetery
Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Cornelia “Connie” Price Moorehead was born on March 27, 1926 in El Dorado, AR.  Named after her father, she was the oldest child of Roxie Ann Taylor Price and Cornelius Price.  She was joined by three brothers (deceased) and one sister:  Timothy Price, Raymond Price, James Price and Delora Mae Price Brewer.  To her siblings, she was “Sister.”  At an early age, she accepted Christ and was a member of New Bethel Baptist Church in El Dorado, AR where her parents faithfully worshipped into their elder years.

Cornelia moved to Pine Bluff, AR to attend college at the Agricultural, Mechanical and Normal College (AM&N) where she received a Bachelor of Science in 1948, majoring in Home Economics with additional study in Elementary Education.  She remained an enthusiastic and loyal member of the Class of 1948 and attended her 65th College Reunion in 2013.  In 1948, she married Samuel Cleophus “Cle” Moorehead (deceased in 1975). From this union, Macletus Yvette, Olivia D’vonne, and Patsy Lynette (often referenced as “the Moorehead girls”) were born.  Together, Connie and Cle raised their daughters to love God, family, and education.  They were the proud owners of Moorehead Service Station, a Phillips 66 service station on West Pullen Street.

Mrs. Moorehead joined St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church soon after moving to Pine Bluff and remained a faithful, active and hard-working member until she relocated to live in an assisted living community (Schrader Acres) in Nashville, TN in 2008.  While at St. Paul, Mrs. Moorehead was Secretary of the Sunday School for 48 years, a charter member of the Inspirational Singers choir, and a member of the Missionary Society Circle #7. St. Paul was her beloved church home and she ardently believed in regular attendance at Sunday School, Church Services and Baptist Training Union.  Her dedication to St. Paul was returned to her in her later years through the kindness of church members who continued to reach out to her through mailed tapes of worship services and cards, calls, and visits from St. Paul Pastors and members while she lived at Schrader Acres. These expressions of love and affection filled her heart with delight.  In addition to her church activities, Mrs. Moorehead was also an active member of the Social and Arts Club, and Jack and Jill of America, Inc.  After her retirement, Mrs. Moorehead was a charter member of the Travelin’ Friends and became an enthusiastic traveler.  Her many trips included a Caribbean cruise to San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten’s, Barbados and Martinique; a cruise to the Bahamas; an Amtrak trip to Seattle, WA and Victoria, British Columbia, San Francisco and Las Vegas; a trip to Los Angeles where she appeared on The Price is Right; a trip to Branson, MO during the Christmas season; a trip to Minneapolis, MN where she visited the Mall of America; and a trip to Hawaii.

Mrs. Moorehead began her professional career as a teacher in 1948, teaching for 37 years and retiring in 1985.   During her career, she taught 3rd grade in the Watson Chapel Schools, Kindergarten at AM&N, and 4th Grade in the Rison, AR schools.  In 1955, she was asked to come to Altheimer Elementary School where she became the first Black teacher at this school. She taught 3^rd Grade (her favorite!) there until her retirement.

Over the years, “the Moorehead girls” became well-accustomed to her many former students reaching out to her, or stopping her around town to say they remembered her and thanking her for being their 3rd grade teacher or for teaching their child.  Needless to say, she took great pleasure in these encounters!

Though Mrs. Moorehead never taught home economics, she was an extraordinary cook, baker, seamstress, and homemaker.  She always had a home improvement or decorating project underway and had a particular love of the color green.  Her home was filled with love, laughter, delicious smells, music, and “saying grace, Bible verses, and nightly prayers.”  Believing that both ordinary and special moments were to be captured and remembered, she took many hundreds of photographs and often volunteered to create scrapbooks for a club to which she belonged.  Mrs. Moorehead loved people and had many friends, both in Pine Bluff and at a distance.  She greatly enjoyed talking to them by phone (particularly Mildred Johnson [deceased] who lived across the street from her for many years), writing letters and sending birthday cards. 

Mrs. Moorehead took great joy in being a Grandmother and Great Grandmother.  After having only daughters, she became Granny, Gran Gran, Grandma and Honey to one granddaughter (Nia), five grandsons (Christopher [deceased in 2004]), Cameron, Patrick, Khari, and Gyasi), and two great granddaughters (Camina and Baylei)!  To have her as a grandmother and great grandmother was to be showered with love, scrumptious food, good humor, stories, and unwavering encouragement, support, and prayers.  Over the years, Mrs. Moorehead also enjoyed close relationships with her sons-in-law, Dennis Slaughter (“Mother Moorehead”) and Steve Turner (“Connie B”).  Dennis was a regular source of affectionate and fun energy, and amazing musical renditions delivered in person (including for her and the residents at Schrader) as well as sent to her on CD’s.  Steve was quite simply her “rock.” Always a quiet and generous presence, it was Steve who physically lifted and carried her in her later years when she could no longer walk. 

Mrs. Moorehead gave love and kindness in abundance, and in return, she received an outpouring of love from many throughout all the years of her life. These expressions of love and kindness extended to her last days of life, where she was blessed by the staff at Alive Hospice of Murfreesboro with the most amazing and loving care we could have ever desired for her. Even as she slept deeply, those who cared for her remarked on the sweet spirit that emanated from her and expressed appreciation for the privilege of caring for her.

Cornelia Moorehead leaves to honor, celebrate and treasure her memory; her sister, Delora Brewer; daughters, Macletus Y. Smith (grandson Cameron Jon Smith and great granddaughter Camina Paris Smith) of Antioch, TN, Olivia (Dennis) Moorehead-Slaughter of Milton, MA (grandsons, Khari Adebayo M. Slaughter of Berlin, Germany and Gyasi Ayodele M. Slaughter of Milton, MA) and Patsy (Steve) Moorehead Turner of Murfreesboro, TN (grandson Steven Patrick Turner of Greenbrier, TN; granddaughter Nia Calise Turner Ikner of Antioch, TN; great granddaughter Baylei Rose Ikner of Antioch, TN); Moorehead nieces and nephews, Faye, Shirley, Bessie Kaye, Brenda, Willie Carl, Colette, Evelyn, Sandra, John and Diane; Price nieces and nephews, Jodi, Deanne, Terrence, and Alton; and beautiful great nieces, great nephews, cousins and friends.