Rosie Wilson

Rosie Mae Wilson was born on August 14, 1934 in Waynesboro, MS to Audrey Roberts and Johnette Brown.  She departed this life on October 7, 2020 at Sunny Hill Nursing Home.

Rosie, affectionately known as Mae, moved to Joliet, IL in 1964 and later married the late Willie Wilson.  After the passing of her husband she moved to Oceanside, CA for a few years to live with her oldest son and his family.  Whenever you asked about her time in California, she would tell you how she loved the water.

Rosie loved her family.  She always wanted to know what everyone was doing and if you saw her enough, you had your own special nickname.  If you were fortunate, you experienced her cookies or jelly cake at some point in your life.  When visiting her, “she was never sleep but always resting her eyes” as she sat in her favorite chair.

Rosie got around by walking just about everywhere.  She was a member of St. Mark C.M.E. Church and would walk to service regularly until a hip injury prevented her from doing so.  She enjoyed gardening, visiting with family and friends, and collecting knick-knacks.  But her favorite pastime was puzzles. She loved puzzles! She would spend hours working on puzzles and would have her favorites framed for wall art.  

Rosie is preceded in death by her parents, Audrey and Johnette; husband Willie; brother, Howard McDonald, and great-grandson, Jeremy Marble.

Rosie is survived by her children, Donna (Rickey) Ellis, Hattie (Emmett) Hayes, Willie (Shawna) Wilson of Joliet, IL, and Hardy (Mildred) McCullum of Spring, TX; sister, Verta Mae Gordon of  Laurel, MS; grandchildren, Dedrick (Lisa) McCullen, Stacey (Shannon) Dillard, Adrian (Rebecca) Ellis, Rickie Ellis, Joanne (James) McBeth, Joshua, Jerome, and Alice Cartright, Latisha McCullum of Joliet, IL, Leon (Quianna) McCullum of Colorado Springs, CO, and Monique McCullum of Pahrump, NV; aunt, Caldonia Newell of Stringer, MS; nieces, Annie Lindsey of Laurel, MS and Brenda Harris of Vossburg, MS, Jill Alexander, Nancy Johnson and Stephanie Alexander of Joliet, IL, nephew, Virgil Arrington of Meridian, MS; 30 great-grandchildren, 16 great-great grandchildren and a host of family and friends who loved her dearly.

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