Youlandia Elaine Nelson was born on January 9, 1957, in Malvern, Arkansas. She was the only child of Gracie Nelson.
Elaine received her formal education at Encanto Elementary, Fulton Elementary, O’Farrell Jr. High and Lincoln High School in San Diego, California. She attended the San Diego City College Cosmetology program and then transferred to and graduated from Bay Vista College of Beauty. After receiving her Cosmetology license, Elaine worked in several salons including Soul Scissors May Company, Lady Cheryl’s Coiffeurs, and Longs Barber & Beauty Shop in National City. After she left Long’s, she was self-employed for a few years.
Elaine was kind, generous, and loved to have a good time. She could always be depended on to help in any way she could when called upon. She enjoyed hanging out with friends and family, wearing her red lipstick, and “looking cute.” In 2013, Elaine met Lenard Smith and they became a couple. They remained together until her death.
On December 7, 2023, Elaine passed away peacefully after a brief hospital stay and went home to be with the Lord.
She was preceded in death by her parents Grace and S.C. Jones, her husband Reginald Dobbins Sr., and her Aunt Earlie Mixon.
Left to cherish her memory is her longtime love Lenard Smith “Peewee,” her 3 sons; Reginald Dobbins Jr., Gregory F. Castille Jr., and Deon Jones, 5 grandchildren, her sibling-cousins; Cherri Meals “Sonny”, Russell Young, and Jeffrey Young, all of Los Angeles, Felicia Roussel of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, her “sister” Ursula Douglas, god-daughter Malika Hollins of San Diego, along with a host of nephews, nieces,
cousins and friends.
