WILBURN, Zenobia

Zenobia Lackey Wilburn, the third of six children was born to Sevallia and Doll Beaty Lackey on June 16, 1922 in Ardmore, OK. She graduated from Douglass High School at age sixteen and enrolled at Langston University in Langston, OK. She majored in Home Economics. She also attended Ohio State and Arizona State Universities earning Master of Arts and Education Specialist degrees. Her teaching career began in Boynton, OK. Her family relocated to Phoenix, AZ in 1950 where she taught in the Roosevelt School District for 20 years. She then taught reading at Mesa Community College and retired after 14 years. In 1943 she married Leonard Earl Wilburn and they were married 47 years until his death in 1990. Three children were born of this union, a daughter and two sons. Zenobia committed to serving her family, friends, and community as an active participant and leader. She served Tanner Chapel A.M.E. Church for nearly 54 years. She was an excellent seamstress and loved to travel. Her passion for her family genealogy inspired her to author the family tree dating back eight generations. Zenobia departed this earth on April 12, 2004 after a brief illness. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, two sisters and her husband, Leonard. Left to cherish her memories are her daughter, Earline Foster and sons, G. Alan Wilburn and Leonard Kevin Wilburn; three grandsons, Mark Foster, Kevin Tucker Wilburn and A.J. Bates; sister, Mignon Lewis, brother, Mervyn Lackey, sisters-in-law Lois Wilburn and Clarice Lackey and a host of relatives, large extended family, many dear friends and former co-workers. Family visitation was at Carr-Tenney Mortuary, 2621 S. Rural Road, Tempe. Funeral services were at Tanner Chapel AME Church, 20 S. 8th St, Phoenix. Entombment at Greenwood Memorial Cemetery, Serenity Mausoleum at 2300 W Van Buren St, Phoenix. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to local chapters of the following organizations: The American Heart Association, The Special Olympic Association of Arizona, The Alzheimer's Association and The American Cancer Society. Published in the Arizona Republic on 4/15/2004.