Napoleon Rosebrough "Rosebud" Cloud was called to heaven on Thursday, January 14, 2021, after serving the Lord for 87 years.  Affectionately known as "Big Po, Po Po" and "Coach Cloud", Napoleon was born the eleventh of 12 children on August 11, 1933, to the late Janie Dunham Cloud and the late Roseborough Baker Cloud in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Napoleon was a graduate of Carver High School in the Winston Salem Public School System, where he was 4-year football, basketball and track letterman. He attended Saint Augustine College (University) in Raleigh, North Carolina, and graduated in 1957, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education. His professional career as a middle and high school educator included Danville City Schools, Danville, Virginia, Reidsville City Schools, Reidsville, North Carolina, and Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Napoleon, a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.,  joined Hanes Memorial C. M. E. Church, Winston Salem, NC, at a young age, never changing his home church or his upright walk with the Lord.

He met his soul mate, Cynthia Joan Speas, while attending Carver High School, and even though Napoleon attended Saint Augustine College in Raleigh NC, his love for her flourished, growing deeper each year. On March 28, 1959, Napoleon and the love of his life exchanged wedding vows. Through this devoted union came two children: Kimberely Louise and Napoleon II, and together, they raised both children in their home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Coach Cloud began his iconic coaching career when he worked at Mineral Springs Junior High School. From there he taught and coached basketball at West Forsyth High School, Clemmons, NC. Coach Cloud arrived at Glenn High School, Kernersville, NC, to teach physical education when the school opened in 1984, and spent 16 years at Glenn High, compiling an impressive  214-184 win-lost record. Under Cloud's direction, the Glenn High Bobcats won conference titles in 1988, '89 and '99 and won three Frank Spencer tournament titles. He aided Glenn in being  sectional champion and a regional runner-up in 1989. Coach Cloud was recognized as Metro Athletic Conference Coach of the Year 1987-88 and Piedmont Triad 3A Conference 1997-98.

A quiet man with a powerful presence, Napoleon Cloud not only poured his positive fatherly qualities and his personal sportsmanship into his 38- year coaching career in the Triad, he also mentored and coached his brother-in-law, Cary Speas, as well as several of his nephews and cousins.  His professional legacy of coaching winning players is still well known in the Winston-Salem Forsyth County area and his name is iconic at Glenn High School and West Forsyth High School, as many professional players he coached still remember him as a quiet, caring, and supporting mentor.

As loudly as his basketball coaching accomplishments were widely known and respected, that was just how quietly Napoleon Cloud retired in 2000 from the public-school system. He totaled 38 years of basketball coaching. The simple departure, however, didn't appear to surprise anybody close to him, especially his former high school players, like Kevin Thompson, who met Coach Cloud in the 9 ^th grade, played a couple of years in the NBA after graduating from N.C. State and was a former head coach at Walkertown High School.

Just as discreet, Napoleon Cloud returned to the court sidelines in 2002, to serve as a volunteer basketball assistant Coach at Carver High School, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, his 1953 high school Alma Mater. He continued to uplift the men around him until 2006, when he again departed to finally enjoy full retirement with his wife and grandchildren.

Besides his parents, Napoleon was preceded in death by his soul mate, Cynthia Joan Speas Cloud; and all his siblings: two sisters, Galatia Neal, and Nevara Wynn; and nine brothers: Carl, Manning, Emmit, Paul Ovelton, Delmos, Denoris, Nebraska, Aldine, and Swandell.

He leaves to celebrate his life, his daughter, Kimberely, and his son, Napoleon II, both of Winston-Salem, NC; his grandsons, Napoleon "Trey" Cloud III, and Bryce Curtis Cloud; three sisters-in-law: Marjorie Speas Phillips, Deborah Speas, and Frances Cloud; one brother-in-law, Cary D. Speas, a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. He also leaves a special 'Thank You' to his devoted niece, Gale Ingram, for her endless visits and continual support.

A viewing will be held from 1:00pm until 5:00pm Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at Russell Funeral Home.

Private funeral services will be held at Thursday, January 21, 2021.  Interment will follow in Woodland Cemetery.