Cornelia Ross

Cornelia Ross was born on July 15, 1930, to Japhus and Jessie Ann Tucker Ross, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Despite the historically tough time the nation faced, particularly for the South, her parents instilled in her a solid foundation and a strong faith in God. With that, Cornelia graduated from Peake High School in 1951. She shared memories of picking cotton early in the morning, going to school, then coming home to pick more cotton in the evenings.

Cornelia worked hard throughout her life. She was a well-respected employee of Henderson State University. She also did private domestic work to support her family. A devoted mother, her children were priority and put first. She preferred staying home, spending time with family, watching westerns, cooking good meals, and sewing. She was a die hard Dallas Cowboys Football fan and enjoyed music by James Brown and the Isley Brothers.

Family was everything to Cornelia and she never met a stranger. She loved her twin sister, Cordelia, who lived next door to her from 1972 until her passing in 2021. They were truly “tit for tat”.

Cornelia was loved and well-known throughout the Arkadelphia community she cherished so much. She could always be seen walking to and from or sitting on her porch often “cursing out” those who passed by. During the 2021 pandemic, her 90th birthday was celebrated with a vehicular parade of family and friends, paying tribute to Cornelia and Cordelia as special Arkadelphia residents of almost a century! She was a member of the West End Presbyterian Church for most of her life until she was unable to attend. She passed from this life on Wednesday, October 29, 2025.

She was preceded in passing by her parents; her siblings, Aurelia Ross-Griffin, Charlie Ross, Pauline Ross McElroy, Efferin Ross, Lucy Ross, and her twin sister, Cordelia Ross Summerville (October 1, 2021).

She leaves lasting memories with her children: Rickey “Roach” Ross of Arkadelphia and Ruth (Dwayne) Harvell of Arkadelphia; four grandchildren, Tyson Ross of Arkadelphia, Dwayne Harvell, Jr., of Arkadelphia, Tiana Harvell of Little Rock, and Haley (Ed) Smith of Sherwood; two great-grandsons, Chancellor Jackson and D’Armami White; her brother, Herbert (Elizabeth) Ross of Arkadelphia as well as a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Public visitation will be Friday, October 31, 2025, from noon until 7:00 p.m. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Services will be held at Williams Funeral Home on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Llewellyn E. Terry, Sr., officiating. Interment will be at Richmond Hill Cemetery.