Our Grandmother, Raina Teresa Obi, passed away on April 22, 2001. She was almost 92 years old. Below is her obituary from the April 25 issue of "The Florida Times Union".

OBI - Raina Obi, 91, died Saturday, April 22, 2001. Born July 29, 1909 in the northern province of Mesopotamia (now Mosul, Iraq) and the direct descendant of the late Msgr. Derzi who after his ordination pioneered Catholicism in Mesopotamia. She wed Habib D. Obi in 1925, the year she immigrated to the United States. Her late husband Habib Obi moved to Jacksonville after serving in the U.S. Army during World War I. Mrs. Obi has been a resident of Jacksonville for 76 years and was a member of Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Angels and several other catholic churches and organizations in the city. In addition to mothering eight children, grandmothering 28 grandchildren and great grandmother to 23, Raina Obi dedicated her life to the service of her church, her late husband Habib and to all of her children. She was the mother of Mrs. Evelyn White (Patrick), Mrs. Ethel Hillyard (Richard), George Obi (Frances), Edward Obi (Lupe), Dr. Lewis Obi (Myra), James Obi (Jean Ann), Thomas Obi (Eva) and David Obi (Yvonne). Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00A.M. Thursday, April 26, 2001 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Fr. Gregory Fay celebrant with interment to follow at Oaklawn Cemetery. The Rosary will be recited at 7:00P.M. Wednesday, April 25, 2001 at the chapel of HARDAGE GIDDENS FUNERAL HOME 4115 HENDRICKS AVE.

• Obi Family Tree (11 KB)
  

• Habib Obi (1920) (106 KB)
  In Army Uniform
• Obi Brothers and Sisters (2001) (51 KB)
  Left to Right: David, Tommy, Jimmy, Lewis, George, Ethel, Evelyn
• David and Yvonne Obi, 25th Anniversary (61 KB)
  Left to right: Evelyn, Pat, Nugget, Eddie, Lynn, Lupe, Announcer.
• Habib and Raina Obi (1965) (57 KB)
  40th Wedding Anniversary
• George and Frances Obi (2001) (31 KB)
  Raina Obi's Funeral Reception
• Debra and Family (2002) (31 KB)
  Debra, Hampton, Waverly, and Rae
• Habib and Evelyn Obi (1926) (25 KB)
  Passport photo taken in Florida
• David, Eddie, Sammy, and David Jr. (2001) (33 KB)
  Raina Obi's Funeral Reception
• Jimmy Obi and Grandaughter Malarie (2002) (36 KB)
  Jimmy and Malarie at Judd and Susie Baker's wedding
• Habib Obi and Three Children (1935) (28 KB)
  Left to right: Ethel 6, Habib 44, George 2 and Evelyn 9
• Lourdine and Family (2001) (39 KB)
  
• Christopher and Dawn Anderson and Family (2003) (44 KB)
  Left to Right: Christopher, Dawson, Dawn, and Drayton
• Christmas Party #1 (Mid 1980's) (26 KB)
  Eddie, Tommy, Yvonne, and Evelyn
• Hillyard Family (2001) (31 KB)
  Left to Right: Linda, Ricky, Ethel, Marsha
• Habib, Raina, and Children (1965) (81 KB)
  Back Row: Edward, Ethyl, Lewis, David, Tommy, Evelyn, George; Front Row: Habib, Raina
• Christmas Party #2 (Mid 1980's) (22 KB)
  Raina and Michelle
• Whitney, Bettie, Lynn, and Laura (2001) (42 KB)
  
• Obi Family Dinner (1965) (78 KB)
  Habib and Raina's wedding anniversary dinner
• Christmas Party #3 (Mid 1980's) (42 KB)
  Raina and Ed
• Evelyn and Pat White's Family (1989) (42 KB)
  Top Row: Pat, John, Danny, James; Middle Row: Evelyn, Thumper, Jennifer, Lynn, Monica, Rebekah; Front Row: Teri, Trey, Chris, Mary, and Laura
• Five Generations of Women (63 KB)
  First Born Women: Taylor, Jennifer, Raina, Evelyn, and Elizabeth (Thumper). Raina mother of Evelyn, Evelyn mother of Elizabeth, Elizabeth mother of Jennifer, and Jennifer mother of Taylor.
• Lewis Obi's Children (1974) (31 KB)
  Back Row: Lori, Brenda, Janet Front Row: Lewis, Lisa, Bettie
• Evelyn and Pat White (2001) (37 KB)
  50th wedding anniversary. They were married February 4, 1951 at Our Lady of Angels in Jacksonville, FL.
• Raina and her pet snake (1980) (36 KB)
  

• Derzi Family History (4 KB)
  Written by Ibrahim Derzi, brother of Raina Derzi (also spelled Terzi)
• Raina Ossi - Obituary and Article (14 KB)
  Matriarch of large Arab-American family dies
• Daniel Patrick White's Obituary (2 KB)
  "Pat" White died Monday, May 5, 2003

• History of Iraq
• Dr. Lewis Obi's plastic surgery web
• The Obi Family - by Timmy Obi
• Sam and Bettie's Webpage

Bettie Jeanne Obi
obi_johnson@hotmail.com

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