Rose Dawkins

Obituary For Rose Dawkins

Rose R. Dawkins was born in Gaffney, SC on November 16, 1931. She departed this life on February 3, 2023, at Hospice of the Carolina’s Foothills, Forest City, NC. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband Richard R. Dawkins, Stepfather Rev. Darvin Ross and mother Annie Mae Peeler Ross, brothers: Darvin Ross Jr., W.J. Ross, Samuel Ross, Sam Finney and Larry Finney and sisters: Min. Annie Mae “Genell” Ross Beam and Dorothy Ross Beam.

Rose grew up in Gaffney, SC where she finished high school and later married the love of her life Richard R. Dawkins. Richard later joined the US Army and Rose began a life of an army wife which afforded her the opportunity to travel and eventually live in Germany. After retirement, they settled in Baltimore, MD where Rose resided for nearly 40 years until she relocated to Lawndale, NC to live with her sister, Dorothy Beam in 2017 due to illness.

Rose was a faithful member of First Mt. Olive Freewill Baptist Church, Linthicum, MD. She served the church in various capacities and was honored as a “Mother of the church” in her later years. In her former years she was employed as a seamstress and worked at General Electric in Baltimore, MD. She was also a licensed Cosmetologist in the state of Maryland and worked for the Veterans Administration. Her friends and family knew her as a “straight shooter and “self-sufficient” woman. While she was a well accomplished career woman, her greatest accomplishment was that she was a child of God. She was a prayer warrior and loved to sing God’s praises. Although dementia may have attacked her mind, it never hindered her from knowing that her Savior was keeping her. She often prayed “Lord, keep me in your keeping care and I’ll give you the glory”

Rose is survived by three sisters: Sally R. Scott of Greensboro, NC, Brenda Roberts (Danny) and Lola Surratt (Michael) of Lawndale, NC, three brothers: Willes James Finney, Thomas Finney and Jerry Finney all of Shelby, NC, a sister -in -law Linda Finney of Shelby, NC and a brother -in -law Samuel Beam of Lawndale, NC., and a host of nieces and nephews. She resided with her nephew Quinton Beam (Sherry) of Shelby, NC.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 10, 2023 at 4:30 PM at Caanan Memorial Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 4:00 PM until 4:30 PM and at other times at 109 Alder Drive Shelby.