Lottie Mae Riney

Lottie Mae Riney (Wheeler)

June 8th, 1940 –May 15th, 2025

Lottie Mae Riney was born on June 8, 1940, in Mississippi/Arkansas, in the union of Willie and Bertha (Thigpen) Wheeler. She is the youngest daughter of six children.  Lottie accepted Christ at a young age.  She was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Banks in Chicago, Illinois. 

Lottie grew up in Blytheville, Arkansas, on a farm where her parents had begun as sharecroppers. As time progressed, her family became landowners and acquired several properties. After her mother's passing at the age of eight, Lottie was sent to live with her aunt Queen in Chicago, Illinois.  As a teenager, she attended Marshall High School. While in high school, she met and married Clenzell Riney; together, they bore nine children, five girls and three boys, all born and raised in Chicago, Illinois.

 Lotties worked at Brock's Candy Factory, the local laundromat, thrift stores, and hotels. After the passing of her husband, she continued as a single mother, working diligently to provide for her family. Striving for better opportunities, Lottie and her family left the Cabrini Green Housing Projects in the 1970s after she became a homeowner.  Lottie had purchased a six-bedroom house on the West Side of Chicago, Illinois.  Later, she became an entrepreneur, buying a restaurant, “Lottie’s Soul Food,” located on Madison Street in Chicago, which began her legacy. Lottie took pride in serving her community with a haven that offered Southern homestyle meals, famous for her crispy-edged pancakes, turnover eggs, steak, and fried potatoes. At any given time, you could find one of her daughters cooking behind the scenes and serving at the counter of the family-operated business.  Lottie desired that her family work together to build something that would generate wealth and leave a lasting impression.  Her aspirations live on through her family today. 

Lottie engaged her family and ensured they stayed together through times of hardship and celebrations. She leaves behind a legacy of love, resilience, and strength. Lottie lived a full life, and at the age of 84, on 5/15/2025, she was called to eternal rest, preceded in death by her Parents: Willie & Bertha Wheeler Husband: Clenzell Riney Siblings: Roger, Rose, Hattie House, Helen, and John Wheeler, Dorothy Booker (sister-in-law) Children: Dennis, Bertha, Clenzell, Lottie Joe, Vanessa, and Willa Riney Grandchildren: Lotasha, Dawyon, Lacy, Ezell, and Lavell Riney Great Grand Children: Eric Cherry, William White Jr. and Addianna Cherry and God-daughter Latonya Murray.

She leaves to cherish her memories: Children: Guy, Sabrina, and Felica Riney, Roy Mitchell (Son-in-Law), Melissa Riney (Daughter-in-law). Grandchildren: Cynthia (Anthony Cherry), Vera (Seron Hayes), Dominique, Amanda, Iashia, Tierra, Clenzell, Cora, Latashia, Prentice, Vincent, Sabrina, Darren, Tabitha, Francis, Brianna, Erica, Detrick, Steve, La-Earl, Vanessa, Guy Jr., Devion, Tafari, Marvell, Kayla (Demetrius Bradley), Kendall, and Davell Riney, Ebony and Freda Murray. Great Grandchildren: Bobby, Anzetta, Aemani, Anthony Sidney, Anthony II, Dallas Cherry, Wyatt White, Howard Jr., Davion, Dominic, and Royall Fisher, Parris, Avian, Ahania, Ahsia, and Ahreya Brown, Dawyon Jr., Shawn, Terrell Jr., Kiyantee, Rimiah, Yakari, Zyell Riney, Isiah, Melody, Harmony, Aniyah Blue and Jeremiah Blue, Edward Massey Jr., Great-Great Grandchildren: Brazil, Bobby Jr, and Adrianna Cherry, London,  Darren Jr., Damarean, Sa’Varren, Kiyell Riney, Preslee Brown, Elyse Johnson, Ki’Ari Harris, Jada Jones, Tiylan, MiErick, Erica’s Kendall, Essynce Bradley, Contessa Lee, Damen Rosenthal, Adonis Turner, Denzell Murray and a host of many family & friends.

Funeral Services Sunday June 8, 2025

Visitation:2:00pm-3:00pm

Service:3:00pm-4:00pm

Ruby Funeral Services & Crematories

1520 East Washington Street

Springfield, IL 62703