Bobbie Anne Best

Bobbie Anne Best, 83, passed away peacefully on April 1st surrounded by her family. She was born on January 24th, 1940 in Fair Bluff, North Carolina. When she was 12 years old, her family moved to Springfield, where she attended Chestnut Middle School. She graduated from the High School of Commerce in 1958. After high school she went to Mercy Nursing School finishing as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Bobbie loved working in hospitals, first at Municipal Hospital, then Wesson on High Street. She also worked for many years as the admitting clerk in Wesson Womens Hospital, finishing her hospital career in administration in the emergency room of Baystate Medical Center. She enrolled in college through a Baystate Medical weekend college program where she attended classes all weekend long at Springfield College, American International College and New Hampshire College. She excelled in her coursework and enjoyed it immensely, graduating from the program with honors.
Bobbie was a voracious reader. She read anything and everything she could get her hands on. She read at least a thousand Harlequin Romance Novels. They were her favorite. She loved love and romance. An incredible cook, she was always in the kitchen whipping up an old fashioned southern meal or some new creation, whatever it was, her children gobbled it up! Everything she cooked was mouth watering and delicious! A woman of many talents, she could draw, knit, sew, and crochet. She loved to sing and dance and loved music. Music was always playing in her home. She also loved to travel and vacation with her friends, Adrienne Caulton and Shelda McLaurin.
Bobbie loved the Lord. And very much enjoyed St. John's Congregational Church under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley, whom she adored. She was a leader in the Healthy Life Ministry at the church for years spearheading several successful health fairs. She was also a founding member/creator of the Stone Soul Picnic. Bobbie had such a profound love of children and helped out with all of the children in the family, she even fostered children. Bobbie loved the outdoors, fresh air and the sun! She loved to sit in her backyard overlooking the lake and sitting in the sun, watching the birds and drinking a tall glass of Pepsi, her favorite drink.
She leaves to cherish her memory her husband Leo Best, Sr., of Springfield, MA her son, Leo Best, Jr., of Indianapolis, IN, daughter Deborah Best Whittington (Jerome), of Springfield, MA, daughter Darlene Best of Springfield, MA and son, Travis Best of Springfield, MA, grandchildren Michael Dixon of Jacksonville, FL, Tiffani Best, of Holyoke, MA, Leo Best, III, (Laurie) of Springfield, MA, Darryl Best, Jr., of Springfield, MA, Eric Best of Indianapolis, IN and Lydia Best, of Indianapolis, IN, 17 great grandchildren, 3 brothers, James McLoyd of Millville, NJ, Donald Powell, of Maui, HI, and Raymond (Kindalay) Akers of Springfield, MA Bobbie was predeceased by 1 son, Darryl Best, Sr., her parents Haywood McLoyd and Pearlene Akers, as well as 2 brothers Haywood McLoyd, Jr., and Brice Akers, 2 sisters Zeddie Perry and Francine Powell, 1 grandson, Blair Edmonds, and her mother in law, Ruby Knight.
Bobbie will be sorely missed by a host of nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters in law, cousins and friends.