Rosie Lee Richardson Blair was born on April 16, 1921 in Clarksdale, Mississippi to the union of Lawyer and Savannah Arrington Richardson. She was the eighth of eleven children: L.E., Marie Etta, Mack, Jesse, William, Willie Lee, Lawyer, Jr., Bert, Robert Lee and Allen, all of whom preceded her in death.
When Rosie was two years old, the family moved to Charleston, Missouri, In 1936, the family moved again to Detroit, Michigan to join several of the older Richardson children.
She was formally educated and graduated from Northeastern High School and later from the Detroit Institute of Commerce where she was a member of the first graduating class.
After WW II, the United States War Department began recruiting clerical workers for Germany and Rosie Lee applied for a position. She passed the screening test but was rejected on the pretext that there were no housing facilities for Negro women. She was accepted after the Urban League protested to the Secretary of War. In 1946, she began working as a stenographer in a civilian capacity for the Department the United States Army in Vienna, Austria. She spent three years overseas. In 1956, she began working for the United Automobile Workers of America (UAW) at the Solidarity House in Detroit, Michigan and retired in 1984 after twenty-eight years of service.
She accepted Christ at an early age and was a devoted member of East Bethleham Lutheran Church in Detroit, Michigan where she served in many auxilaries.
Rosie met and married Joshua Royal Blair, Jr. on May 22, 1965. They were entrusted with the parenting of two children: Gregory Fitzgerald and Gladys Elaine Blair. Both Joshua and Gregory preceded her in death.
A very vell spoken and refined lady, Rosie Lee never met a stranger. She was very outgoing and loved people. Rosie was a very community oriented and a member of various organizations including the Lutheran Child and Family Services Board of Directors, Detroit Association of Black Storytellers, Top Ladies of Distinction and the Oak Park Toastmasters. Also, she was a member of the Red Hat Society and a lifetime member of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and many other organizations.
A few years after the death of her husband Josh, she moved into the Henry Ford Village in Dearborn, Michigan. She loved living there and took part in many activities. Upon visiting her, she would introduce you to many of the residence and staff and most of their comments would be "she is such a lovely lady".
In the early hours of Tuesday, August 26, 2008, our beloved Rosie Lee made a peaceful transition into eternity. She leaves to cherish her memories: a loving daughter Gladys E. Blair-Oree; five grandchildren: Darryl, Joshua III, April, Samuel and Candace; three sisters-in-law; Lilar Richardson, Irma Jean Richardson and Rose Blair as well as loving nieces, nephews and a host of friends.