Visitation: Saturday, December 10, 2011 10am Willing Workers Christian Redeeming Spiritual Church, 5631 Wells Avenue, St. Louis, Mo Service: 12pm Eric D. Cornelius was born May 23, 1963 in St. Louis, Missouri to the union of Odell and Ozella Cornelius. He was the 2nd of five children born to this union. His father, Rev. Odell Cornelius, brother, Odell Douglas and sister, Rachel Elaine preceded him in death. Big E, was educated in the St. Louis Public School System, he graduated from O'Fallon Technical High School in 1981. While attending O'Fallon he participated in the Glee Club and Gospel Choir, which later branched off and became the "St. Louis Gospel Connection" under the direction of Ms. Veronica Hughes. Big E confessed hope in Christ at an early age and was baptized under the leadership of Pastor Barlett Wilkerson of the Baptist Church of the Holy Communion. Big E was an excellent chef due to his many years of employment in the restaurant industry, much of which that was spent working at Red Lobster and O'Charley's. During those years, he helped to employee numerous friends and family. After he left the restaurant industry, he chose to work with individuals with special needs; Eric was employed at Bellefontaine Rehabilitation Center, and was currently employed full time at Life Skills and part-time with Touch Point Autism Services as a Mental Health Specialist. Big E had many passions in life, he was a baritone singer and loved music, especially music from the late Phyllis Hyman and Sarah Vaughn. He was a collector of all types of music including vintage albums and CD's. Big E enjoyed cooking and was always in demand for his special food creations. He was very concerned about the troubled individuals in the neighborhood and spent many hours listening to them and counseling them. Big E took his flight home to be with the Lord on December 5, 2011 at SSM DePaul Medical Health Center. Big E leaves to cherish his memory his beloved mother, Ozella Marie Cornelius; stepmother, Patricia Cornelius; 8 siblings, Thomas (Charsetta), Troy, Tracy (William), Albert, Harriet, Jerrick (Stephanie), Phyllis, all of St. Louis, MO and Robin of Detroit, MI; his beloved niece, LaTina Green; 19 nieces and nephews; 5 great nieces and nephews; 2 godchildren, Century Williams of New York and Jakyra "Fat Baby" Coney of St. Louis, MO; special friends, Kimberly Wallace, Keith Williams of New York, Dorrian Martin,Jared and Aneisha Coney and family; 2 Aunts, Julie Robertson of St. Louis Missouri and Lenora Butler (Samuel) of San Antonio, Texas; 3 uncles, Jimale Harris (Willie Mae) of St. Louis Missouri, Jimmy Cook (Ollie) of Tupelo Mississippi and Eldrige Cook of Lansing Michigan; a host of cousins and friends that he dearly loved and cherished.

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