Opal Jean Laster

The sweet and loving life known as Opal Jean Laster came to a close on Tuesday, November 3, 2015. Although she lived for 74 years and what some may call a short life, those who were touched by her understood that the quality of her existence far exceeded the quantity of time many of us spent with her. Opal was born on November 11, 1940 in the small, but close nit town of Chidester, Arkansas to the union of Robert and Lucy Goshen Laster. She accepted Christ at a young age. At the age of 16 she relocated to Cleveland, Ohio seeking opportunities that were not available to African Americans living in the south. She later found employment with Cleveland Metal Productions and her family started to grow. Opal was a hard worker, who made sure that her children had nutritious food, clean clothes and an education. She took her role as mother seriously. She was fun and loving, but tough and didn’t play. She said “what she meant” and “meant what she said”. Her children and grandchildren were the apple of her eye. Her home was always filled with love and laughter. She gave wise advice and learned to look beyond a person faults. She believed that there are some bad in the best of us and some good in the worst of us. She later moved back to Gurdon, Arkansas in the 80’s and enjoyed the things that life offered. She loved to cook and could be found talking on the telephone with relatives and friends for hours. Her passing shall be filled with rejoicing for a life well lived. She now is added to His great and blessed family in the world beyond our vision, a place not made by human hands, a place we call Heaven. Opal was preceded in her passing by her parents; sisters, Margaret Johnson and Ruth Holliman; brothers, Willie Laster, Jimmy Laster and Charlie Laster; her son Rickey D. “Spook” Laster who passed on August 1, 2015 and a grandson, Rodney Calhoun (2014). She leaves fond memories in the hearts of her children, Ramona Laster (Julian Marks) of Gurdon, Donna Laster (Randy Bell) of Gurdon and Mark Laster (Deborah Ann Powell) of Maui, HI; a special daughter-in-law, Robin Laster of Cleveland, OH; her sisters, Dorothy Smith of Dallas, TX, Luretta (James “Mr. T”) Richmond of Chicago, Elsie McElroy of Los Angeles, CA and Charlotte Williams of Cleveland OH; her beloved grandchildren, Antwone Nowden, Paula Laster, Cevin Laster, Lavon Laster, Tocarra Laster, Bridg’ette Laster, Ricardo Laster and Mark Laster, Jr., and twenty great-grandchildren. She also leaves her special friend, Dolores Bugg of Akron, OH whom she loved as a sister and Prince Crawford of New York whom she cherished as a brother and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, special friends, Annie Wilson and Virginia Giles and friends. Public visitation will be Friday, November 13, 2015 from 12 noon until 7:00 p.m. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Home going service will be held at Mt. Canaan Baptist Church with Rev. Johnny Harris, officiating at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 14, 2015 and the interment will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Chidester, Arkansas.