Cornelius Cortez McElrathCordova, AL

Cornelius Cortez McElrath “Buddy” or “Corn”, 50, of Cordova, passed away Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Ala.

Family will be receiving friends Saturday, Feb. 19, 2021, from 6 until 8 p.m. at Kilgore-Green Funeral Home. Services will be held Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at First Baptist Church, Corona Avenue, with Kilgore-Green Funeral Home directing. Burial will be at Gay Reed Cemetery. Pastor Nathan Poe will officiate.

Cornelius was born on November 13, 1970, at Peoples Hospital in Jasper to the parents of Otis and Bernice McElrath of Cordova. Everyone that new him he was either know as “Corn” or “Buddy”. He never met a stranger no matter where he was. At a young age he suffered some very serious health complications. The doctors told his family that he would probably never make it past the age of 8, quite possibly 15 but no longer than the age of 20. However, he beat the odds by a long shot and celebrated his 50th birthday this past November.

He accomplished so many things in his life that most of us probably never will and traveled to different places, some of which would seem impossible to the average person but not to “Corn”. He never let his health ailments stop him. It might have slowed him down a little, but he would catch back up and be wide open for whatever.

As a man that would be not totally confined to a wheelchair over the course of time, he loved to fish- that was at the tops for him. He played baseball, couldn’t run but he didn’t have to really. He was the home run king. He loved Alabama football, loved to go, always on ready or standby, loved church and could pray like nobody's business.

For an individual whose parents were told his chances were slim for a normal life or just to live in general, he beat the odds by 200 percent. Cornelius graduated high school at Cordova High School. He was a very active church member. He was so much to so many people.  We have suffered a loss, but God has gained an angel.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Otis and Bernice McElrath; great-grandmothers, Maggie Scott, Deacon Jones; grandmother, Cathernice Scott; uncles, Joe McElrath, Drew McElrath, Nathaniel McElrath, John McElrath, Essie McElrath, Lanier McElrath; and aunts, Rose McElrath, Amy Watts. He is survived by his best friend and sister, Tomeka McElrath; brothers, Derrick McElrath and Fredrick McElrath; sisters-in-law, Marisha McElrath and Angela McElrath; nieces, Kayla Brown (Keving) Brittany McElrath and Phylecia Grimes; nephews, Byron McElrath, Leo Williams and Quentin Grimes; several other great-nieces and -nephews; special sister, Kay Robinett; and a host of countless relatives, friends and family. “

Cornelius hasn’t left us, he’s just “gone fishing”."