SILVER SPRING, Md. — Bobbie Jean Tooke Duffy, 83,
of Silver Spring, Md., formerly of Pine Bluff, passed away Thursday, March 18, 2021. She was born March 5, 1938, and like all of her siblings, Bobbie was born at home in Pine Bluff, Ark. Her parents, Lemuel Alphonso Tooke and Aubra Jane French, precede her in death.
She was the third of nine children. Three sisters: Ivory Erma Tooke Howard, Ruth Naomi Tooke Butcher, and Frances Jean Elkins, precede her in death.
Bobbie attended Missouri Street School (grades 1-5), Indiana Street School (grade 6), and Merrill High School (grades 7-12).
Bobbie was very active in high school. She sang in the high school choir under the direction of Ms. Green (choir director), Ms. Kirby (music director) and later Ms. Grice. She was a cheerleader, a member of the basketball team, the National Honor Society valedictorian of the Junior Class, and very proud that she almost made the 1955-1956 Merrill High School Tiger football team under Coach Clemons.
Bobbie became a Christian early in life. The family attended Allen Temple AME church, where she attended Sunday School and sang in the youth choir.
Bobbie served on active duty in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) from 1958-1961, where she was stationed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC.
Bobbie was a life learner. She attended Arkansas Mechanical and Normal (AM&N) College (now University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff), Howard University, Federal Teachers College (UDC), Trinity University, and Southeastern University. She earned BS and MS degrees in Home Economics (urban extension), and a MS in political policy making.
She settled down in Silver Spring, Md., a suburb outside of Washington, DC. After almost 40 years of teaching, she retired from the District of Columbia Public School system. She was committed to and loved her students.
Bobbie was a global learner and traveler. She traveled extensively throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and North and South America. Her desire was to go to Japan and Antarctica.
A few of her favorite sayings were “If you don’t use it, you lose it” and “It is what it is”.
She leaves to cherish her memory her son, Andre Mario Duffy; and daughter, Felicia Joy Duffy; special daughters, Maya Liddell and Stacey Plaskett; granddaughter, Desiree Dillard; grandsons, Jeremiah, Christian, Ariel, Israel, Andre Jr., and Braxton; sisters, Linda Kaye Tooke and Alice Faye Edwards; brothers, Lemuel Alphonso Tooke, Jr., Leon Arthur Tooke, and Horace (Ida) Everett Tooke; aunt, Leola Procter; aunt, Irma Thomas; and a host of nieces, nephews, great grandchildren, relatives and friends.
Graveside service will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 30, 2021, at Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be 9:30-10:30 a.m. Tuesday, at Ralph Robinson and Son. The service will be livestreamed for those unable to attend.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Habitat For Humanity, Doctors Without Borders, or March Of Dimes.
Online condolences and livestreaming at www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.