Rose Marie Williams-Hill was born September 7, 1928 in Macon, MS to the union of Hosea and Alma Dixon Williams. She was the third daughter of five girls. She had four brothers and four half-brothers.
The family moved to St. Louis in 1941, where Rose continued her early education with the St. Louis Public Schools, graduating from Divoll Elementary in 1943 and Vashon High School in 1947. She completed courses at Muriel Business College, Mound City Business College, Forest Park Community College and UMSL.
Rose marries her childhood sweetheart, William Jones in 1947. Two children were born to this union, Arlene and William Jr. It was Williams’ untimely death after 19 years of marriage that sadly brought closure to this period of her life.
Rose worked for the federal civil service in many clerical and technical fields. Upon her retirement in 1988, she was serving as a Technical Manuals Writer/Editor for the Department of the Army Troop Support and Aviation Systems Command. She retired after 29 years of faithful service.
Rose devoted many hours to developing her skills as a public speaker with the International Toastmistress Clubs, where she quickly rose through four levels to serve as President of the Joan of Arc Club and simultaneously serving as the Secretary and Editor of the council newsletter. She was very proud that she retained the traveling trophy for best speaker of the month for eight months in a row.
After a courtship that lasted for decades, she married Henry Hill in 1993. Rose and Hank enjoyed life together for many years. His death in 2005 left a void in her heart that was never replaced.
In 1960, Rose moved her membership from Wayman Temple AME Church to Cote Brillante Presbyterian Church, where she served tirelessly. She taught vacation bible school and assisted with the preschoolers, was a member of the Women’s Association, Pathlighters Sunday School, and the Dorcas Circle. In 2009, she was ordained as a deacon.
Rose was also a member of the Advisory Council to the Shreve Neighborhood Center and was a very active member of the Vashon Alumni Association.
Rose’s memory will live on in the hearts of her beloved children: Arlene and William Jr. (Cathy); a step-daughter, Debra Glover; eight grandchildren: Johnny, Melanie (Aziz), Candice, Terrence, Brian, Omar, Keisha and Taylor; a step-granddaughter, Stephanie; seven great-grandchildren: Oscar, Victoria, Deandre, Antoine, Alim, Jala and Amir; three siblings: Bernice, Lorraine and Emmett; many, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends that will mourn her passing and hold the memories they cherish forever close to their hearts.