Bobbie Nell Bailey Motton

Bobbie Nell Bailey-Motton, born to Henry Elbert Darden and Olivia Clark Darden in Aberdeen, Mississippi, on May 26, 1940, received her wings on December 25, 2024. She was the second oldest of 4 children. Bobbie Nell was raised a Baptist in faith and believed Christ Jesus was her Lord and Savior and held onto that faith, which she shared worship and instilled in her family. She served the Lord in all she did by giving graciously to all she knew, and she lived with a strong and loving faith in God and believed in family love and unity. Bobbie moved from Aberdeen, Mississippi, to Champaign, Illinois, in 1964 with her children and first husband, T. Aurtie Bailey, to make a new start. He was a carpenter, and she was a mother of two and a housewife. As her family grew, she later took a job as a housekeeper at Newman Hall, where she worked for years, and then found further employment at Mercy Medical Center, now OSF, for 15 years. She met and married "The Biggest" love of her life, Wardell Motton, in 1979, with whom she raised a blended family with a daughter, Taketa Pates. Bobbie Nell was a strong, loving Christian woman who survived a double stroke in 2017 and became a widow of 30+ years while recovering. Bobbie served the Lord first in all she did. She had many hobbies which included bowling, fishing and cooking. She and her team won many of their games in different leagues. She was fishing with her main fishing buddy, Jessie Peoples, when she wasn't bowling. She always hoped to catch a snapping turtle, which was one thing she loved to cook, in addition to the fish she caught. Her primary skill was cooking, and it wasn't anything she didn't know how to cook in the kitchen from scratch. Nothing she cooked came from a box; everything was from memory of how her mom did things in the kitchen when she was younger. Everybody loved Bobbie Nell's food, especially her dressing, greens, and cornbread, even though all her dishes were good. Bobbie Nell made sure that whatever she cooked in her kitchen was enough to feed an army that always seemed to surround her most of the days of her life. She will be remembered and leaves to cherish her memories: sister, Mary Rogers Cleveland, Ohio; five children: Carolyn (Paul) Reed Champaign, Illinois; Rickey (Valerie) Darden Parkin, AR; Micheal Bailey Urbana, IL, Lendean Bailey Urbana, IL, Debora (Johnny) Bailey Urbana, IL; twenty grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and, a host of nieces, nephews, and loved ones. Bobbie Nell was preceded in death by her husband, Wardell Motton; daughter, Mary Bailey; two great-grandsons; both of her parents; and, two siblings. A memorial service will be held at 12:00 Noon January 18, 2025 at Leek & Sons Funeral Home 1215 W. Bradley Ave. Visitation will begin at 11:00 am until the time of the service. Eulogist: Rev DL Jenkins To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bobbie Nell Bailey Motton, please visit our floral store.