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1918-2016

Celebration of Life For
Conola Beatrice Armstrong Steele
January 16, 20 16

We were all so fortunate to have a mother like you. You were there for everyone, not just the family, but friends, neighbors, and people in need. You took great pride in us, your children, waking up early to press our school clothes, feed us, and somehow managing to brush six heads of hair before school. Getting a good education was of great importance to you, so you became involved in school groups, and helped champion bussing students throughout the districts .

Conola (Nola) Steele- fondly known as "Ma" and "Grandma" to her children and grandchildren- was born in Penfield, Georgia to the late Eliza Grifft.n Armstrong and John Henry Armstrong. She was the second youngest of their 13 children. Nola was proud that she was a farmer's daughter and often spoke glowingly about her parents and siblings, as well as life on the farm. She enjoyed growing up around chickens and goats, playing in green fields and under tall pine trees, eating vegetables from her parent's garden and drinking fresh water from a well. Nola attended primary school in a one-room schoolhouse. With guidance from teachers who instilled in her the value of education, she graduated from Union Baptist Institution high school in Athens, GA in 1935. Her parents also instilled Christian values in her and her siblings from an early age. She and her family were members of Harmony Baptist Church in Maxis and also attended services at Sanders Chapel Baptist Church in Penfield.
After a brief first marriage, Nola and her young sons Rudolph and Michael moved to Brooklyn, NY in the late 1940s to be near two of her sisters (Mrs. Myrtice Dillard and Mrs. Juliette pearman). In the early 1950s, she met and married larence Lester Steele. They had eight children (Paula, Yvonne, Yolanda, Ronald, Robert, Stefanie, Gail, and Brooke), including two sets of twins. She and her husband purchased a brownstone in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, where family and friends gathered for over 60 years to celebrate birthdays, holidays, baby showers, and farewells for those who had passed on.

We remember the whole family sitting around the television watching the March on Washington when out of nowhere Lester commented that the women shouldn't be there and the men should be in charge of the march. You looked at him for a few seconds and then calmly challenged "Why not?" That passion and strong will stuck with you throughout your life, so it came as little surprise to me to hear that you had once again donned your marching boots and were out campaigning for your "Barna" .
You led by example and touched the hearts of all you knew. We are forever grateful and cherish the memories of your life.

Sunday mornings found ola in her kitchen preparing homemade biscuits -which had no written recipe and no one has been able to duplicate. Over the years, many friends and family who moved from the neighborhood and returned to visit would stop by ola's hoping to find biscuits. She often made two or three pans and would happily warm and butter them for anyone who came by.
ola was a devoted stay-at-home mother who also babysat the children of a few neighbors and relatives whose parents had to work. This brought many more children into her home, some of whom remain connected to the family. Nola and her sister Myrtice also helped raise their sister Irene's children, Alphonso Stephens and Yvonne Pugh, after Irene's tragic death.
Once ola's youngest child reached high school age, she felt it was time to find work outside of the house. She was hired by the ew York City Board of Education in the 1970s and worked as a paraprofessional in two local elementary schools for over 25 years. She developed many lifelong friendships with teachers, principals, and other paraprofessionals, and had a profound impact on the lives of her former students. Many of them returned to the neighborhood to visit and thank her for caring about them. Nola also became active as a parent in fighting to expand access to a quality education for her children and all children attending public schools in underserved areas of Brooklyn. This brought her in contact with a network of other concerned parents and community members who, under the leadership of Rev Milton Galamison, a prominent Brooklyn pastor and civil rights activist, fought for school integration in New York City.

OBITUARY

Congregational Hymn "Blessed Assurance"

Scripture Reading:
Rev. Duncan Teague-- Old Testament I Rev. Sharon Hodnett- New Testament

"My Great Grandmother was a very kind, sweet, happy and positive
person. The house was always filled with warmth and good vibes when she
was around. I love her and I will really miss her" Love Azariah
Gentofte, Denmark

Prayer -- Rev. Sharon Hodnett
Congregational Hymn "Pass Me Not"
Reflections:
Mrs. Mary Davis - neighbor Ms. Brooke Steele - daughter Grandchild or other family Darlene Hudson - "adopted" daughter Stefanie Steele "words from tfze family " -daughter - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Other-select reflections - - - - - - - - - - - -

Video tribute with obituary

Eulogy -- Rev. Sharon Hodnett

Recessional -- Congregational Hymn "I'll Fly Away"
Nola stayed connected to her roots and often returned to Penfield, GA after her children were grown to visit relatives and friends. After retirement, and when her health made travel difficult, she moved to Atlanta, GA to live with her daughter Stefanie. Her daughter Brooke also helped provide her care. When Nola's health declined further her other daughters, Paula, Yolanda, and Yvonne, often traveled to Atlanta for extended stays to also assist in her care. ola died peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones. She had a long and wonderful life that touched so many lives. Although her family and friends' grief over losing her is deep, it is tempered by their gratitude for being a part of her life.

Nola is survived by her sons Rudolph Griffin (Brooklyn, NY), Michael Griffin (Richmond, VA), and Ronald Steele (Snellville, GA); daughters Paula Steele Chambers (Brooklyn, NY), Yolanda Steele (Oakland, CA), Yvonne Steele (Albuquerque, NM), Stefanie Steele (Atlanta, GA), and Conola Brooke Steele (Duluth, GA); grandchildren Chad Frazier, Amady Soumare, Ammon, Soma, Michael Jr (Bridge), Cara, and Alexandra Griffin, Nia and Seve Chambers, Arianne Bryant; and three great-grandchildren Azariah, Trinity and Dreux. Surviving relatives and friends are numerous. The following relatives also remained close to ola through the years: nieces Patricia Dillard Hill and Yvonne Stephens Pugh, and nephews Alphonso Stephens and Marcus and Barnett Spearman. Her "adopted family" include Darlene Hudson, Sheila Smith Harris, RueZalia Watkins, Glenn Tunstull and Joe Steele.

ola is preceded in death by her husband Clarence Steele; son Robert and daughter Gail; sisters Juliette Spearman, Myrtice Dillard, Irene Briggs, Mabel Little, Annie Hope Hunter, Sally Ridley; and brothers Henry Ernest, Willie Frank, Hugh, John, Booker, and Kenneth Armstrong.

ORDER OF SERVICE

Remembering GrandMa
"Grandma taught me humor. In light of the ups and downs we saw and experienced living in Bedford--Stuyvesant, Brooklyn; she knew now to seek a comedic edge to life. I learned many things from her, too many to mention here. The most important thing grandma gave me was to take the time to find humor in all things great and small." -Chad Kalt
"I nave memories of grandma watching Judge Joe Brown and doing Word Searches. And her biscuits. Can't forget about her biscuits. -- Seve Chambers
"My strongest memories of my grandmother are of her in her kitchen holding court and cooking up a storm to feed the bottomless pit affectionately known as her grandchildren. No day was more important to be in that kitchen then Sunday morning when she would prepare her homemade biscuits. Love you grandma, -An Bryant
What I remember most is that my Grandna used to always be at the table doing crossword puzzles and I thought she must be a genius. - Alexandra Griffin

REMEMBERJNGP
~~~an:?Z~ortive of my
life and my late brother Nate's.
She had an open door for her neighbors and their children, and she was very community-minded. p,ll f illl
Aunt ola was a wonderful person. I have fond memories of being in her kitchen, and always admired how resourceful she was. She reminded me of a Quarter Master, sharing supplies with family and making sure everybody got what they needed. -1\l tt:phens

PALl B ARERS
Ronald Steele, Rudolph Griffin, Michael Griffin, Chad Frazier, Amady Soumare, Freddie & Seve Chambers, Amon & Michael Jr. (Bridge)
SPECIAL THANKS
The family of Conola Steele is greatly appreciative of the professional and compassionate care
given to her by the staff of Asera Care Hospice and Dr. Justin Willingham and other staff of Emory Hospital Emergency Room Department.
In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to: The Alzheimer's Association - (wwwalz.org)
The Children's Defense Fund- (www.childrensdefemsefund.org)
The repast will immediately follow the services at Bethel Baptist Church at 1890 Second Ave, Decatur, GA 30032
Funeral Services Donald Trimble Mortuary, Inc
1876 Second Ave Decatur, GA 30032
404--3 71--0772

AcKNOWLEDGEMENTS

As sure as tfte vine grows 'round tfte stump, you are my darling sugar lump .. Penfield saying