Service Announcements

Ms. Rosa Ann Howard 85 of Charlotte.passed away Monday, December 26, 2016 at Saturn Nursing and Rehab Center. Funeral service will be held Monday January 2, 2017 at Hopewell AME Zion Church 11333 Beatties Ford Rd, Huntersville, NC  28078. Visitation will begin at 1:00 pm and the service will follow at 2:00 pm. Interment will take in the church cemetery.

Rosa Ann Howard affectionately known as “Grand Rosey” was born on April 29, 1933 in Mecklenburg County to the late Leonard “Bus” Howard and Ida Pharr.  She departed this life peacefully on December 26, 2016 at the Saturn Living Center in Charlotte, NC.

Rosa Ann graduated from Torrence-Lytle High School (formerly Huntersville High) in Huntersville, NC with the Class of 1953.  She served for many years as a domestic worker where she met her second family and fell in love at first sight with the Griffith family.  She continued to share her special bond with the family through the years.

She was a faithful member of Hopewell AME Zion Church until her health prevented her from attending regularly.  Rosa Ann served for many years as a missionary, usher and Deaconess. She loved her visits and time with the Seasoned Saints.

Rosa Ann loved nurturing flowers and talking on the phone with family and friends. In her spare time, she would spend hours at a time watching soap operas and westerns especially her favorite Walker Texas Ranger. Cooking was another one of her favorite past-times.  Rosa Ann was known for her crispy fatback, fried chicken, pinto beans, Rum Cake and orange Kool-Aid.

She is preceded in death by her son, Jeffrey Anthony; brothers, Leonard “Gabby” Howard Jr and James “Bo” Howard and son-in-law Dennis Nelson.

She leaves to cherish fond memories, three daughters, Carolyn Howard, Cassandra Nelson and Sandra Howard; three sons, Melvin Thomas Howard (Tracy), Christopher Howard (Diane) and Fred Griffith (Paula); sister, Betty Moore; sister-in-law, Linda Howard; three grandchildren, LaTrell Howard, Mark Howard and LaQuisha Hooper; seven great-grandchildren, Sierra, Emya, DeMarcus, Tahajie, Jonquile, Deandre and Kyrie; one great-great-granddaughte;r Zytoria Vasquez; nieces, nephews and a host of family and friends.