Bobby Lee “Papa Smurf” Cantrell

Mr. Bobby Lee “Papa Smurf” Cantrell was born on January 13, 1952 in Gainesville, Georgia to the late Lester Pruitt and the late Pauline Cantrell. On August 21, 2019, he was called home to be with the Lord. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Elaine Riley.

Ms. Pauline Cantrell played an integral part of molding Bobby into the respectful and responsible individual who we know today. His influence ranged from being the father of hundreds that he coached in baseball and football to those children who he drove back and forth to school. Whether it was to fix your house or cut your grass, Bobby could always be called on when needed.

Bobby’s walk with God began with his grandmother in Antioch Baptist Church. Later, he rededicated his life when he joined Bethel Church of the Nazarene. To complete the wholeness of this journey, he brought it all to fruition when he married the love of his life, Joyce Riley. From this union, Lamont L. Cantrell was born to join Kenny and Elaine. We thank God for allowing us to spend such memorable moments in Bobby’s presence. We, as a family, have loved and lost a very special person.

He leaves to cherish his memories to his wife, Joyce A. Cantrell; sons, Kenneth, Sr. (Sandra) Whelchel, Lamont (Juanita) Cantrell; grandchildren, Brandon, Miguel, Kenneth, Jr., Jacquees, Alexis, J.J., Tobias, David, Asim, Omar, Makailah, Ashanti, Ishmael, and Ishaylah; 21GGC; brother, Thomas (Linda) Cantrell; special thanks to friends, Ruth, Ruby, and Vickey Watson; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday August 28, 2019 at 11am at Bethel Church of the Nazarene. Viewing will be Tuesday August 27, 2019 from 2pm-7pm. The family will receive family and friends from 5pm-7pm.

If I had the gift of Prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything but didn’t love others, what good would I be, and if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move without love, I would be no good to anyone.

1 Corinthians 13:2

For if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; so whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Romans 14:8