Ora Lee Pendergrass

Sunrise- December 7, 1942
Sunset-April 8, 2024
Rochester, NY

Ora L. Tisdale Pendergrass passed away on Monday, April 8th, 2024. She was born on December 7th, 1942, in Salters, South Carolina, to Annie and John Tisdale.

She attended St. Mary's Church in Salters, South Carolina, and went to school until the family moved to Kingstree, South Carolina, after the death of their father John Tisdale. Ora and her siblings attended Tomlinson High School and Greater Bethel Methodist Church in Kingstree, S.C. They enjoyed their lives in the city, as they called it.

Ora met and married Willie Pendergrass in September 1959, and they had three sons together: Francis, Raymond, and Michael. She was an Eastman Kodak retiree and picked up part-time work at Walmart to keep her busy until she decided to retire completely.

As a long-time member of the Aenon Missionary Baptist Church, Ora showed her ultimate dedication by joining the missionary board.

Unfortunately, over the years, the family started to experience the loss of loved ones. Her mother, Annie, passed away in 1989, followed by her step-father, Hughie Snowden Sr., and her brothers David Tisdale, Benny Snowden, Hughie Snowden Jr., and sisters Mattie and Retha. Eventually, her beloved big brother Deacon James Tisdale also passed away.

Surrounded by love and prayers, Ora decided that it was time for her battle with cancer to end. Left to not mourn, but to celebrate her life, she left behind her three sons, Francis (dear friend Gale), Michael (Elinore), and Raymond (Margaret (Janet-Deceased)), as well as her sisters Ann Burgess and Tenna Randal, and brothers Sanders (Deloris) Tisdale Sr., John (Ying) Tisdale, Jerome (Daisy) Tisdale, Lewis Snowden, Robert (Marylee) Snowden, and Trueman Snowden. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Ruth Tisdale, Virginia Tisdale, and Josephine (Rev. Miller), her one and only grandson Marcus (Chelsea) Pendergrass, and her first great-grandchild Aaliyah Pendergrass.



Family and friends may assemble for calling hours on Wednesday April 17, 2024, 9-11 am at Aenon Missionary Baptist Church, 175 Genesee St, Rochester, NY 14611. Funeral services will begin promptly at 11 am. Interment Westside Cemetery Scottsville, NY.

To sign the online guestbook or to leave a condolence click the above link, "share memories".