83. Lois Sojourner, a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord on August 7, 2025, at the age of 83. Born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Lois was the second of six children born to Willie and Ara Mae Sojourner. Her life was a testament to excellence, faith, and fierce devotion to family.

Lois broke barriers early in life, becoming one of the first African American members of the National Honor Society at Buchtel High School. She pursued higher education with determination, earning her undergraduate degree from the University of Akron and a graduate degree from Kent State University.

Her professional journey led her to serve as a medical technologist in the blood bank at St. Thomas Hospital, where her precision and care touched countless lives.

For over four decades, Lois was a faithful servant in the finance department of the Arlington Church of God (ACOG), teaching financial stewardship to churches across the Greater Cleveland/Akron area and contributing to the YEPAW committee.

A world traveler and passionate family historian, Lois kept the stories of her loved ones alive through photographs and memories.

Her love of porcelain clowns and competitive Scrabble games added color and joy to her life.

She was known for her meticulous attention to detail—always crossing her t’s and dotting her i’s—and for being the one in charge, even in her final days at Arden Courts.

Lois was a tireless advocate for her family, whether by phone, in person, or across the miles.

To her nieces and nephews, she was more than an aunt—she was a second mother, a guiding light, and a source of unwavering support.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Willie and Ara Mae Sojourner; her brother Fred Sojourner; and her sister Joyce (Sojourner) Fowler.

She leaves behind her cherished sister Anne Sojourner, brothers Dan (Lenda) Sojourner and Arnold (Elizabeth) Sojourner, and a number of beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Her traveling companions, brother -in-law Pastor Laureate Ronald (Joyce) Fowler, and Barbara Jones, along with special friends Tiajuana Robinson, Barbara Robinson, and Launa Sneed, will remember her warmth and wisdom.

Pallbearers include Wesley Sojourner, Nathan Sojourner, John Snipes, Joseph Sojourner, Justin Snipes, Ronald Fowler II, Bryant Sojourner, and Tyler Starks.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to Lois’s church family; Arlington Church of God for their persistent prayers, words of encouragement and steadfast support. Arden Courts, Hospice, and Stewart & Calhoun for their compassionate care.

Special thanks to legal guardian and nephew Justin Snipes for his tireless, exceptional, and devoted job.

Lois’s legacy is one of strength, grace, and unwavering faith. She lived with purpose, loved with intensity, and left an indelible mark on all who knew her.

Her life exemplified her favorite except from the poem:

The Present Crisis by James Russell Lowell

“Truth forever on the scaffold.

Wrong forever on the throne.

Yet that scaffold sways the future

Behind the dim unknown

Stands God, within the shadow

keeping watch above His own.”