December 11, 1926 — May 2, 2025
Eleanor Ophelia Holley was born in Cleveland on December 11, 1926, to the late Daniel and Alberta Young. She was the youngest of five siblings, two of whom died in infancy.
Eleanor had early aspirations to become a fashion designer after graduating from Central HS. She enrolled in the former Elizabeth Kardos Fashion Institute and studied tailoring at night at Jane Addams HS.
Eleanor began her career working at the Navy Finance Center. Her first marriage had produced two daughters, Brunetta and Charlotte. Determined after her divorce to provide a better life for her daughters and herself, following her Eleanor worked for the Internal Revenue Service by day and began to study Court Reporting by night, all the while attending to her children, one of who was hospitalized recurrently for sickle cell crises.
Eleanor attended Dyke College, Cuyahoga Community College, and the Griswold Court Reporting Academy in preparation for her new career. Following her graduation from Griswold, she found her dream job when she was hired by the Cleveland Municipal Court, quite a perch for a woman of her age and complexion. She retired in April 1989 as Assistant Chief Court Reporter.
Eleanor was a longtime member of St. John AME Church, where she was active in several organizations including the Dorian Choir and The Janie E. DuBose Ladies Aides, where she served as club secretary for seventeen years.
Those closest to Eleanor appreciated her creative side. She was said to make German chocolate cake from scratch that was so moist it could be taken intravenously.
Eleanor was also an accomplished seamstress, gardener, ceramicist.
Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Theodore and Henry, her beloved firstborn daughter, Brunetta, and her granddaughter, Lois. Survivors include her daughter Charlotte; granddaughters Lisa (Clifford), and Jeremi; and four great-grandchildren: Jeremiah, Jevin, Khaleef and Jeweleus.
A funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 10:30a at St. John AME Church, 2261 East 40 St [44103]. A wake is scheduled for 10a. Arrangements have been entrusted to E. F. Boyd and Son Funeral Home, where a public viewing is scheduled Friday, May 16, from 12p-4p at 25900 Emery Rd [44128].
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