When the passing of Bobby Cleveland was announced in April, people immediately began thinking of ways to honor him at the Ross Barnett Reservoir where he volunteered so much of his time. The Barnett Reservoir Foundation made a request on July 14 to change the name of Lakeshore Park to Bobby Cleveland Park at Lakeshore – it was granted.
Pearl River Valley Water Supply District General Manager John Sigman said Cleveland was a member of the foundation and a “real doer.”
“He was well known across the state and region as a wildlife conservationist and greatly respected in the fishing and hunting communities,” Sigman said. “For that park, he started things like Sunset Concerts, the BBQ Contest, the State Cooking Contest, and other events like Food Truck Mash Up. He did so much for the park that his family thought it would be great to have the park named after him.”
President of the Barnett Reservoir Foundation Dale Shepherd said the appreciation for the view and opportunities the park posed led to the Sunset Concert Series sponsored by the foundation, which Cleveland was an essential part of. Shepherd said Cleveland saw the value in that park and made the concert series a great success.
“More importantly, it gave Bobby the opportunity to share his love of something special with his friends and strangers, who would not stay strangers long once he met them,” Shepherd said.
Shepherd said Cleveland was dedicated to making a difference through his work and personal life.
“He wanted his community to be a better place for everyone,” Shepherd said. “His way of making a difference was making people laugh and provide entertainment through the outdoors, as he did with fishing, hunting, boating, special outdoor events, and his colorful stories.”
Shepherd said he was full of life and wanted everyone else to enjoy life even more.
“Within hours of his passing, people were thinking of ways to remember and honor Bobby other than in their hearts, and his legacy will continue with the renaming of Lakeshore Park to Bobby Cleveland Park at Lakeshore,” Shepherd said. “He treasured Lakeshore Park for its amazing views of the Rez, which he loved so much.”
Sigman said the renaming of the park will remind people of Cleveland’s deeds and what he stood for
“We will have a really nice big sign up there to let you know you have arrived at Bobby Cleveland Park at Lakeshore,” Sigman said. “We may have a ribbon cutting when we get the sign up there, but we haven’t really planned that far ahead. I want a big sign – not something you just glance at – maybe something you have to drive under.”
Cleveland wasn’t a founding member of the foundation but, from the day the foundation was created to the second of his death, he supported its goals, projects and events, Shepherd said. He later became a board member and the “heart of the foundation.” Shepherd said he was the continuity for the foundation – providing leadership, wisdom, and focus – contributing in so many ways to the foundation’s success.
“Bobby was the definition of a great person,” Shepherd said. “He treated people with respect and expected the same in return, which is what he got due to his willingness to do anything for his friends and his community.”
Shepherd said Cleveland was a man of integrity who would do what was right, keep promises, and follow through with commitments he made.
“He always passed on good advice and mentored people he surrounded to ensure they too would be able to continue his success and have successes of their own,” Shepherd said. “I can only hope in the years ahead, when people enter the park, they will ask, ‘Who was Bobby Cleveland?’ so they can be told the story of his accomplishments and what a great man he was.”
