Miss Rossie Lee Thomas

On July 6, 1936, Rossie became the seventh child born to Deacon James Nathaniel Thomas and the Reverend Sallie Battle Thomas in Apopka (Orange County), Florida. Born in the House of God Church, she was a life-time member and served as Secretary of Treasure until her health failed. She was a Sunday School Teacher for Beginners/Primary Classes (between ages 3-8 years old). One of the things she tried to instill in the kids was you are not responsible how people treat you, but you ARE responsible how you treat others. Also, do good at all times because God sees everything you do. It doesn’t matter whether man know what you do because man can’t bless you, but God can. Rossie received her elementary education at Wheatley Elementary School in Apopka, Florida. She continued on to graduate from Hungerford High School in Eatonville, Florida. She was very active in all available sports and played first string Girls Varsity basketball for the duration of her High School years. It was here she acquired the nickname “Rock”. She was also a cheerleader on the “Pep Squad.” Rossie attended Grady Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Atlanta, Georgia and was a life-time healthcare provider in one capacity or another. Whether transporting folks to their Doctor’s appointments or hands on care. She was employed as a Medical Assistant at the West Orange Farmworkers Health Association (A health clinic for migrant and farmworkers, founded in 1973 by four Catholic sisters of Notre Dame). Rossie was forced into early retirement after a total hip replacement in 1990. In 1992 Rossie was awarded the first of the Rossie Thomas Distinguished Service Award named in her honor for 18 years of outstanding and dedicated service in the community and the Health Center. This award as presented annually to a deserving employee of the health center. In 1998 she returned to work part-time with the Sisters of Notre Dame at the Farmworkers Association of Florida as a telephone receptionist. They called her “their” Maya Angelou because of the striking resemblance. In January 2004 the Nuns treated Rossie to the Zora Neale Hurston Festival in Eatonville, Florida where Maya Angelou was doing a book signing. When Rossie told Ms. Angelo that people always tell her how much the two of them looked alike Ms. Angelou replied “I can see the resemblance” and signed Rossie’s book “Rossie Thomas, Joy To My Look Alike.” Rossie was well known in her community as someone who could be depended on to assist anyone in need. She was also known as “The Bread Pudding Lady.” She told it that in 1996 her church was in dire need of repairs. She prayed that the Lord would help her to be able to contribute her portion of the finances. She said the Lord gave her a vision how to make bread pudding to sell and “anointed my hands.” Not only, did she raise over and above the assessed amount, she began using that blessing to supplement her “fixed” income and helped her church more. Aunt Rossie’s Original Recipe has been enjoyed by many throughout the United States. One of the things that Rossie credited for getting her through Life’s difficult times was this prayer. God, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference. Rossie dearly loved her mother-in-law, the late Carrie Richardson, she said she reminded her of Naomi in the scripture in the book of Ruth. Rossie was preceded in death by her parents, Deacon James Nathaniel Thomas and the Reverend Sallie Battle Thomas; sisters, Lillie Robinson and Beatrice Simmons; brothers, Willie James, Columbus, Cecil and Linnon Calvin (L.C.) Thomas. Rossie leaves to cherish some sweet and some sour memories to: her devoted and caring children, Cynthia Bellamy Williams of Gainesville, Florida, Tangela Brown (Grady) of Tallahassee, Florida, John Michael Bellamy of Apopka, Florida; two loving brothers, Eli Thomas of Apopka, Florida and Pastor Joseph Johnson (Pricilla) of Atlanta, Georgia; four devoted sisters, Dorothy Neil (Lee Jr.) of Mt. Vernon, New York, Pastor Tripholia Brinson (Sam, Sr.), Barbara Conover of Apopka, Florida and Rosie Gross of Miami, Florida; five grandchildren, ShaQuana Lynum (Tommie, Sr.) of Orlando, Florida, Jarvis Bellamy, Kedra Brown, Nandi Bellamy, Tadarius Hall, all of Tallahassee, Florida; three great grandsons, Tamon and Tommie Lynum, Jr. of Orlando, Florida and Elijah Dickey of Tallahassee, Florida; six sisters-in-law, Ineko Thomas of Tampa, Florida, Beulah Thomas of Orlando, Florida, Endia Thomas, Lillie Gardner, Addie Johnson, all of Monticello, Florida and Sarah Scurry of Albion, New York; two god sisters, Laurice Peterson of Plymouth, Florida, Faye Bell Eady (Bennie) of Apopka, Florida; her BFF, Ina Ruth Owens of Apopka, Florida; one godson, Fredrick Griffin (Ivy) of Orlando, Florida; five god-daughters, Gayle Sinclair, Gussie Baker both of Orlando, Florida, Linda Owens of Washington, DC and Gianetta James of Jacksonville, Florida and Earline Owens of Brooklyn, New York. Her extended families, The Davis, The Taylors, Sinclairs, House of God Members, wonderful neighbors, especially, Trina McMath, the Sisters of Notre Dame; and many, many family members and sorrowing friends.

Tributes

Miss Rossie Lee Thomas

July 6, 1936 - June 19, 2015