Arbelia “Obelia” Stiggers

Arbelia Faison Stiggers (affectionately known as Obelia) was born to the union of Joseph Faison and Erie Pregon-Lenard on April 23, 1912. From a child, she always had a beautiful smile to share with everyone.
She married Paul Stiggers, Sr. on June 30, 1928 in Wheel-wright, Kentucky, moving to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1929, where her union to Paul was blessed with 14 children, as they enjoyed a rich family life.
Obelia joined the First Baptist Church of Valley View (later renamed First Baptist Church of Lincoln Heights) and in the 1930’s, moved to Lincoln Heights. She served her church as an Usher, Choir Member and worked on numerous fundraisers, including selling her famous barbe-que sandwiches and special homemade sauce to support the church.
Obelia also joined the Eastern Stars and satisfied her ambition to be a career woman by becoming a Psychiatric Nurse’s Aide, earning the highest honors of her class. She worked at Longview State Hospital until retirement.
Arbelia leaves four generations to cherish her memory: daughters, Bernice Tate and Erie Mae Kesler of Cincinnati, Ohio, Josephine Carr (Eddie) of San Francisco, Califor-nia, Arbelia Duncan of Richmond, California and Angelia Stiggers of Lima, Ohio, and her sons, Paul Stiggers, Jr., James Edwards Stiggers, Nathaniel Stiggers (Rosalind) and Anthony Ray Stiggers, all of Cincinnati, Ohio; and a host of other family and friends.