Oscar Lee Tobias

Oscar Lee Tobias was born in Merigold, Mississippi on October 9, 1939 to Leroy Tobias and Virginia Pepper-Tobias. His father worked in a factory and his mother worked as a housekeeper at his time of birth. He was the first born of ten children.

Growing up, he ventured out on his own at an early age. For a short period of time he worked as a cook. He traveled with the circus, and later worked for the Cotton Club Bottling Company. He traveled a lot. He later became a steel worker and worked at Chase Brass and Copper, a leading manufacturer of brass.

In 1964 he met his wife Minnie Lee Perry. His wife had four children prior to meeting him. He stated "I went to her house and saw four little kids sitting on the floor and I asked her who kids are those," and she replied "those are my kids." He raised those four children as his own. In 1966 he and Minnie birthed a son together, named Oscar Perry. In 1968, he then married his wife and they remained married for thirty two years until her passing in 1996.

Everyone knew Oscar as "Grandad;" it didn't matter the relationship, he was "Grandad!" He raised many of his grandchildren and always welcomed everyone into his home. His home was home to many other members of his family and even friends of the family. Although he raised many grandchildren, there were three young ladies that he raised just like his own. To Charelle, Michelle, and Daveda he wasn't just a grandfather, but the father that none of them could ever replace. You see "Grandad" was a grandfather to all that knew him. He was a great man with an even greater heart.

To know "Grandad" was to know you're gonna get a good story. He was full of past-time stories. He would tell many stories about his experience growing up as a young black boy in Mississippi. He loved to sew, re-create jewelry pieces, and if you ever visited his home it was like a family museum because he had all the pictures of his family. Crafty was an understatement. He was truly resourceful. "Grandad" would put some threads together for sure. When you needed to know how to tie a tie knot or how to fold a handkerchief, he was the man to show you. And how could anyone forget, THE JEWELRY!!!! His jewelry was his signature. All these things we love about him became memories on Friday December 17. "Grandad" passed peacefully with his "baby sister" by his side.

Oscar was preceded in death by his parents, Leroy Tobias, and Virginia Tobias; his wife, Minnie Lee Perry-Tobias; his stepson, Jaamid Abdullah; and siblings, Eddie, Michelle, Jerry, and Nolan Tobias.

"Grandad" leaves memories for his family to cherish to his son, Oscar Perry; stepson, Jeff; two stepdaughters, Marrion, and Cynthia; five siblings, Leroy, Walter, Joyce, Linda, and Erma Tobias. He also leaves beloved memories to many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends and anyone else who knew and loved him.