Oceola Staples, 69, the only member of the gospel and contemporary song Staples
Singers who did not appear on stage, died in her Dolton home.
"She was a Staples Singer, but she didn't sing," said the group's founder,
Roebuck, Mrs. Staples' husband of 53 years. "She was our encouragement and our
backbone."
Born in Louisville, Miss., Mrs. Staples met her husband while in school in Drew,
Miss. They married in 1933 and moved to Chicago two years later. Mrs. Staples
and her husband were affectionately called "Mom" and "Pop" by family and
friends.
"I worked during the day, and she baby-sat," said Roebuck. "And she worked at
night as a supervisor at the Morrison Hotel, and I baby-sat. That's when I
taught the kids to sing."
He started singing with his four children in 1953, and they became professionals
in 1957. That was when Mrs. Staples quit her job.
"She helped us with costumes and she took care of everything, all the details.
She even made sure the children carried themselves well," her husband said. "And
she was always there after a tour or concert with our favorite meal."
The group has made such recordings as "Respect Yourself," and "Reach Out and
Touch Your Hand," but Mr. Staples said his wife's favorite was "On a Cloudy
Day."
Besides her husband, she is survived by three daughters, Cleotha, Yvonne and
Mavis; a son, Pervis; five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Singers who did not appear on stage, died in her Dolton home.
"She was a Staples Singer, but she didn't sing," said the group's founder,
Roebuck, Mrs. Staples' husband of 53 years. "She was our encouragement and our
backbone."
Born in Louisville, Miss., Mrs. Staples met her husband while in school in Drew,
Miss. They married in 1933 and moved to Chicago two years later. Mrs. Staples
and her husband were affectionately called "Mom" and "Pop" by family and
friends.
"I worked during the day, and she baby-sat," said Roebuck. "And she worked at
night as a supervisor at the Morrison Hotel, and I baby-sat. That's when I
taught the kids to sing."
He started singing with his four children in 1953, and they became professionals
in 1957. That was when Mrs. Staples quit her job.
"She helped us with costumes and she took care of everything, all the details.
She even made sure the children carried themselves well," her husband said. "And
she was always there after a tour or concert with our favorite meal."
The group has made such recordings as "Respect Yourself," and "Reach Out and
Touch Your Hand," but Mr. Staples said his wife's favorite was "On a Cloudy
Day."
Besides her husband, she is survived by three daughters, Cleotha, Yvonne and
Mavis; a son, Pervis; five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Oceola Staples, 69, the only member of the gospel and contemporary song Staples
Singers who did not appear on stage, died in her Dolton home.
"She was a Staples Singer, but she didn't sing," said the group's founder,
Roebuck, Mrs. Staples' husband of 53 years. "She was our encouragement and our
backbone."
Born in Louisville, Miss., Mrs. Staples met her husband while in school in Drew,
Miss. They married in 1933 and moved to Chicago two years later. Mrs. Staples
and her husband were affectionately called "Mom" and "Pop" by family and
friends.
"I worked during the day, and she baby-sat," said Roebuck. "And she worked at
night as a supervisor at the Morrison Hotel, and I baby-sat. That's when I
taught the kids to sing."
He started singing with his four children in 1953, and they became professionals
in 1957. That was when Mrs. Staples quit her job.
"She helped us with costumes and she took care of everything, all the details.
She even made sure the children carried themselves well," her husband said. "And
she was always there after a tour or concert with our favorite meal."
The group has made such recordings as "Respect Yourself," and "Reach Out and
Touch Your Hand," but Mr. Staples said his wife's favorite was "On a Cloudy
Day."
Besides her husband, she is survived by three daughters, Cleotha, Yvonne and
Mavis; a son, Pervis; five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Singers who did not appear on stage, died in her Dolton home.
"She was a Staples Singer, but she didn't sing," said the group's founder,
Roebuck, Mrs. Staples' husband of 53 years. "She was our encouragement and our
backbone."
Born in Louisville, Miss., Mrs. Staples met her husband while in school in Drew,
Miss. They married in 1933 and moved to Chicago two years later. Mrs. Staples
and her husband were affectionately called "Mom" and "Pop" by family and
friends.
"I worked during the day, and she baby-sat," said Roebuck. "And she worked at
night as a supervisor at the Morrison Hotel, and I baby-sat. That's when I
taught the kids to sing."
He started singing with his four children in 1953, and they became professionals
in 1957. That was when Mrs. Staples quit her job.
"She helped us with costumes and she took care of everything, all the details.
She even made sure the children carried themselves well," her husband said. "And
she was always there after a tour or concert with our favorite meal."
The group has made such recordings as "Respect Yourself," and "Reach Out and
Touch Your Hand," but Mr. Staples said his wife's favorite was "On a Cloudy
Day."
Besides her husband, she is survived by three daughters, Cleotha, Yvonne and
Mavis; a son, Pervis; five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
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