Visitation: Thursday, December 26, 2013 12 noon - 5:00 PM at the Long Beach Colonial Mortuary 638 Atlantic Avenue; Long Beach, CA.

Service: Friday, December 27, 2013 at 11:00 AM at the Long Beach Colonial Mortuary Chapel 638 Atlantic Avenue; Long Beach, CA.

Interment: Inglewood Park Cemetery
720 E. Florence Avenue, Inglewood, CA.

Obituary
Roy Cleveland was born in Laurens County, South Carolina on January 4, 1945, the eighth child of Roy Cleveland, Sr. and Mamie Cunningham Cleveland, who preceded him in death.

At an early age he joined Mill Rock Baptist Church in Gray Court, South Carolina. His early education was in the public schools of Laurens County and he attended Sanders high school. On December 12, 1966 Roy joined the U.S. Army and served in the United States Army for a period of eight years. He fought in the Vietnam War and received a Purple Heart and Honorary Military Awards and metals.

In 1984, Roy relocated to Los Angeles, California. It was August 1986, while employed at Paramount High School, that a mutual co-worker introduced him to her very good friend, Shirley. After a brief courtship, Roy married Shirley, the apple of his eye on April 20, 1987.

Roy loved children, especially his grands and his greatgrands. Spending time with them was his passion and greatest joy. He always beamed with excitement whenever they called him Papa.

Roy was also preceded in death by his son Roy Cleveland III and two sisters, Ella Cleveland Smith and Ruth Cleveland Anderson.

On Saturday morning, December 14, 2013, Roy departed this life to a life of no more pain and suffering.

He leaves to cherish fond memories, his wife, Shirley A. Cleveland; his children Felicia (Lewis) Cleveland Johnson, Juana (Anthony) Bell, Roynette Cleveland, Alacia Williams, Shonquita Reese and Donna Naylor; sixteen grandchildren, Shamira'Sade Lucas, Asha Bell, Antaneisha Bland, JaQuay Bell, Asia Brazil, Terry (LeSha) Daniels, Jr., Anthony Bell, Jordan Johnson, Chase Johnson, Ja Kamryn Johnson, Makadyn Johnson, Jeremiah Johnson, Trey Johnson of Dallas, Texas, Marvion Nicholson and Darrion Naylor of Gardena, California; one brother, James (Dot) Cleveland of Salisbury, North Carolina; three sisters, Mary Lou Lynch, Sarah Ann Beasley, Bessie (William) Kilgore of Laurens, South Carolina and Mamie Lee of Greenwood, South Carolina; eleven great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews and loving relatives and friends. One special nephew, Willie Cleveland of Bellflower, California and special niece Lisa (Alex) Beasley Williams of Laurens, South Carolina, three close friends, Tommy Jefferson, Morris Harris of Long Beach, California and Bobby Wrice of Laurens, South Carolina.