The Los Angeles Sentinel and the Bakewell family extend our deepest condolences to the Valentine Family on the passing of the family matriarch, Arzella J. Valentine.
Arzella Valentine, her late husband Fred, and the entire Valentine family have been prominent business leaders in the Pasadena community for more than 90 years. Woods-Valentine Mortuary is one of the pre-eminent Black-owned businesses in Pasadena and provides unwavering support to families during their times of bereavement and loss.
Her visitation service will be held on Thursday, August 15, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., in the Woods-Valentine Mortuary Chapel, located at 1455 N. Fair Oaks Avenue in Pasadena.
According to the Woods-Valentine Mortuary website, Arzella was a licensed funeral director and life insurance agent. A native of Denver, Colorado, she was raised in Mount Olive, Arkansas. Later, she relocated to Pasadena, California where she met and married Fred W. Valentine in 1949. Together they purchased James Woods Mortuary from Fred’s aunt, Annie Mae Woods, and built the business known today as Woods-Valentine Mortuary.
Arzella earned an A.A. Degree from Pasadena City College and pursued her love for writing at U.C.L.A. In addition to being accomplished business woman, Arzella was also is a published poet. Her books, “Growing Up In Mt. Olive” and “Return to Mt. Olive,” contain beautiful poems and short stories about her upbringing in the rural south.
In the area of community service, Arzella was a member of numerous boards and active with many organizations including Pasadena NAACP, Pasadena Urban League, Jack and Jill of America, Pasadena Altadena Links, and The Soroptimist Club. A faithful woman of God, she was a member of Friendship Baptist Church where she served in many capacities throughout the years.
Community members recall Arzella as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, godmother, and friend and all agree that her presence will be missed.
https://memorials.woodsvalentinemortuary.com/arzella-valentine/5465258/index.php
