Cora Lackey Long, age 88, of Clarksdale departed this life Wednesday, March 18 after a lengthy illness. Family hour is at New Hope Baptist Church Wednesday, March 25 from 6:30 –8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at New Covenant M. B. Church Thursday, March 26 at 11:00 a.m. Delta Burial Corporation of Clarksdale is handling arrangements. She was born May 22, 1920 and raised in rural Quitman County between Marks and Clarksdale as the eldest of ten children born to the union of Jerry Frank Anderson and Matilda Mumford Anderson. She confessed her faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and was baptized as a pre-teenager in Quitman County at Friendship M. B. Church. At age 15, she married 18-year-old Hilliard Lackey and together they had six children from 1936 to 1946. Widowed at age 27 in 1947, she and her children chose to remain in Mississippi as sharecroppers. She remarried to Samuel Allen Long, Sr. in 1949 and together they had five children. The 11 siblings were raised with Christian values. She was widowed again in 1998.
Cora Lackey Long only reached the sixth grade in elementary school but decided early on to support the educational pursuits of each child. She instilled in her children to be all they could be while having a personal relationship with the Lord. Her progeny numbers 11 children, 29 grandchildren, 42 great grandchildren, and 33 great-great grandchildren. She knew all 115 birthdays, full names, and personal progress. She called each one to say Happy Birthday, congratulations for graduations, marriages, new jobs, and other special occasions. She kept a mental log of most items and a master list of telephone numbers. She was the Family Tree Information Center. She visited or called to give uplifting encouragement to any of her lineage having personal challenges.
Mourning her passing are three brothers: Esker Lee Anderson (Jessie Mae), Memphis, TN; Frank Anderson (Fannie), Fort Lauderdale, FL; and Jerry Anderson, Little Rock, AR; three sisters; Annie Mae Watson (Lucious), Clarksdale; Hattie Sanders (Will) Mt. Vernon, Il; and Ruth Johnson, Milwaukee, WS. Three siblings Gus Henry Anderson, Susan Anderson and Matilda Anderson preceded her in death.
Carrying on her legacy are six sons: James Edward Lackey (Carol), Phoenix, AZ; Dr. Hilliard L. Lackey (Lillian), Jackson, MS; Rev. Samuel Allen Long, Jr. (Valerie) Suffolk, England; Charles Albert Long, Clarksdale, MS.; Dr. Robert Earl Long (Vanessa) Clarksdale, MS.; and Karl Erksine Long (Shawonia) Clarksdale, MS. One son, William Lackey, died at age 15 from an auto accident in 1959. Daughters committed to her legacy are: Carrie Lee Lackey Jackson, Clarksdale, MS.; Cora Lee Lackey, Kansas City, MO; Barbara Jean Lackey Hervey (Ronald), Lenexa, KS and Shirley Ann Long, Clarksdale. A host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, surrogate children, in-laws, friends, neighbors and some total strangers have all benefited from the committed and dedicated life of Cora Lackey Long.
She drove her own car visiting the sick and shut-in until turning age 88. Never one wanting to worry others, she hid her own illness as long as she could. Finally, she wore down physically and with grace and dignity smiled and ascended peacefully to glory. A virtuous woman dwelt amongst us for more than 88 years. To God be the glory!
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