Funeral Information
Location:
New Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church
Date: 12-23-2023
Time: 3:00 PM
Time: 3:00 PM
Visitation Information
Location:
New Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church
Date:
Time:
Time:
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Obituary
Deacon Marvin Pete Mobley was born in Madison, Florida on June 20, 1928, to Willie Mae Smalls and Willie Whiters. However, he was later blessed with a bonus father who adopted him and raised him with unconditional love. He was a lifelong resident of Madison where everyone knew him as “Pete”.
Loved ones who preceded Pete in death were his parents; his wife of 46 years, Mary Lee Murphy Mobley; brothers: Willie James Mobley and Clarence “Coot” Mobley; and sisters: Isabella Mobley and Lou Francis Mobley.
Pete and his siblings attended Rocky Springs and Lime Sink (Hamburg) Schools, two of the rural area’s community two-room elementary schools for black students in Madison County. Although he had the potential to complete high school, he dropped out at the age of twelve, moved to Anthony, Florida, to become a cowboy and earned a salary of $15 a month. He only lived there for a year before he returned to Madison to work on a local farm. When he was older, he secured a job in the pulpwood (forestry) industry for many years.
Pete Mobley’s involvement in a fender bender began disclosing the plan God had for his career and his legacy in public service because following that experience, Herman Cherry, Madison Chief of Police at that time, told him that he recommended him to enroll in the Police Academy in Valdosta, Georgia. After prayerful consideration, family and community support, and with only a seventh-grade education, Pete accepted the offer to take the classes. He passed all the requirements and in 1964, he became Madison County, Florida’s first black police officer at the time when desegregation laws became effective. Among his biggest challenges in keeping the peace were his helping to diffuse potential uprisings during civil rights marches and school desegregation. During his twenty-one-year career, Officer Mobley retired from the Madison Police Department as Sergeant Pete Mobley. Because of his commitment to upholding the law, he later served as a deputy for the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. His experience and reputation positioned him to work on some special assignments for the United States Marshall as well as with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Another aspect of Pete’s post law enforcement career was his working for three years as a bail bondsman.
Deacon Pete Mobley was a man of faith, which was instilled in him by his elders. As a physical reminder of their witness was his inheritance of the Bible that originally belonged to his great-grandmother, a former slave. Pete accepted Christ as his Resurrected Savior and Redeemer earlier in life. He was a member of Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, and until his health challenges prevented his physical attendance, he actively served as the oldest member on the Deacon Board for decades. Deacon Pete Mobley knew that it was because of God’s grace and mercy that granted him favor for his successful career and longevity of life.
Deacon Pete enjoyed playing the guitar and flying airplanes.
However, on Saturday, December 9, 2023, Deacon Marvin Peter “Pete” Mobley answered the roll call for the last time before he reported to his unending duty assignment. He was the last family member of his generation to depart from this earthly life and to transition to his heavenly home. His legacy of life, commitment, duty, and love will forever be imbedded in the community’s collective hearts.
“Although it is difficult today to see beyond the sorrow; may looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow.” Loved ones who will forever cherish the impact that Deacon Marvin Peter “Pete” Mobley made on their lives are his niece/caregiver, raised as his daughter: Tracy Robinson of Madison, Florida; two grandchildren; along with countless other sorrowing relatives, loving friends, dedicated law enforcement family, and his dutiful Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church family.
Loved ones who preceded Pete in death were his parents; his wife of 46 years, Mary Lee Murphy Mobley; brothers: Willie James Mobley and Clarence “Coot” Mobley; and sisters: Isabella Mobley and Lou Francis Mobley.
Pete and his siblings attended Rocky Springs and Lime Sink (Hamburg) Schools, two of the rural area’s community two-room elementary schools for black students in Madison County. Although he had the potential to complete high school, he dropped out at the age of twelve, moved to Anthony, Florida, to become a cowboy and earned a salary of $15 a month. He only lived there for a year before he returned to Madison to work on a local farm. When he was older, he secured a job in the pulpwood (forestry) industry for many years.
Pete Mobley’s involvement in a fender bender began disclosing the plan God had for his career and his legacy in public service because following that experience, Herman Cherry, Madison Chief of Police at that time, told him that he recommended him to enroll in the Police Academy in Valdosta, Georgia. After prayerful consideration, family and community support, and with only a seventh-grade education, Pete accepted the offer to take the classes. He passed all the requirements and in 1964, he became Madison County, Florida’s first black police officer at the time when desegregation laws became effective. Among his biggest challenges in keeping the peace were his helping to diffuse potential uprisings during civil rights marches and school desegregation. During his twenty-one-year career, Officer Mobley retired from the Madison Police Department as Sergeant Pete Mobley. Because of his commitment to upholding the law, he later served as a deputy for the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. His experience and reputation positioned him to work on some special assignments for the United States Marshall as well as with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Another aspect of Pete’s post law enforcement career was his working for three years as a bail bondsman.
Deacon Pete Mobley was a man of faith, which was instilled in him by his elders. As a physical reminder of their witness was his inheritance of the Bible that originally belonged to his great-grandmother, a former slave. Pete accepted Christ as his Resurrected Savior and Redeemer earlier in life. He was a member of Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, and until his health challenges prevented his physical attendance, he actively served as the oldest member on the Deacon Board for decades. Deacon Pete Mobley knew that it was because of God’s grace and mercy that granted him favor for his successful career and longevity of life.
Deacon Pete enjoyed playing the guitar and flying airplanes.
However, on Saturday, December 9, 2023, Deacon Marvin Peter “Pete” Mobley answered the roll call for the last time before he reported to his unending duty assignment. He was the last family member of his generation to depart from this earthly life and to transition to his heavenly home. His legacy of life, commitment, duty, and love will forever be imbedded in the community’s collective hearts.
“Although it is difficult today to see beyond the sorrow; may looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow.” Loved ones who will forever cherish the impact that Deacon Marvin Peter “Pete” Mobley made on their lives are his niece/caregiver, raised as his daughter: Tracy Robinson of Madison, Florida; two grandchildren; along with countless other sorrowing relatives, loving friends, dedicated law enforcement family, and his dutiful Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church family.