Rosa Berry Willis Crawford was born May 13, 1929, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and died peacefully at home in Richland Parish, Louisiana, surrounded by family January 6, 2013.
She was preceded in death by her parents Andrew J. Willis and Ethel Jackson Willis of Rayville, sister Ethel "Cookie" Willis Jones of Monroe, and brothers Andrew "Bully" J. Willis of Gretna and Z. R. Meredith of Alexandria.
She was affectionately known as "Aunt Rosa" to many in her community, but as Mrs. Crawford if you were a student at Mangham High School where she taught for 22 years affecting the lives and future of many. She was a graduate of Rayville High School, Class of 1940, and received a Bachelor's of Science from Northeast Louisiana State College in 1958. She was a proud veteran serving in the first group of women enlisted in the Navy during World War II, 1943-45, training and serving in Naval Hospitals in Texas and California. In 1948, Mrs. Crawford was the first woman elected Commander of an American Legion Post in Louisiana. She was also a Rural Mail Carrier in the late 50's.
Aunt Rosa was passionate about service to others and lived out this commitment as a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Archibald serving as Principal of VBS for many years, proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, member of the Richland Parish Retired Teachers Association, responsible representative to the Archibald-Alto Water System Board, and ardent participant in the Order of the Eastern Star holding many offices and traveling extensively representing her local chapter as well as the State of Louisiana.
She was preceded in death by her parents Andrew J. Willis and Ethel Jackson Willis of Rayville, sister Ethel "Cookie" Willis Jones of Monroe, and brothers Andrew "Bully" J. Willis of Gretna and Z. R. Meredith of Alexandria.
She was affectionately known as "Aunt Rosa" to many in her community, but as Mrs. Crawford if you were a student at Mangham High School where she taught for 22 years affecting the lives and future of many. She was a graduate of Rayville High School, Class of 1940, and received a Bachelor's of Science from Northeast Louisiana State College in 1958. She was a proud veteran serving in the first group of women enlisted in the Navy during World War II, 1943-45, training and serving in Naval Hospitals in Texas and California. In 1948, Mrs. Crawford was the first woman elected Commander of an American Legion Post in Louisiana. She was also a Rural Mail Carrier in the late 50's.
Aunt Rosa was passionate about service to others and lived out this commitment as a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Archibald serving as Principal of VBS for many years, proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, member of the Richland Parish Retired Teachers Association, responsible representative to the Archibald-Alto Water System Board, and ardent participant in the Order of the Eastern Star holding many offices and traveling extensively representing her local chapter as well as the State of Louisiana.
Rosa Berry Willis Crawford was born May 13, 1929, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and died peacefully at home in Richland Parish, Louisiana, surrounded by family January 6, 2013.
She was preceded in death by her parents Andrew J. Willis and Ethel Jackson Willis of Rayville, sister Ethel "Cookie" Willis Jones of Monroe, and brothers Andrew "Bully" J. Willis of Gretna and Z. R. Meredith of Alexandria.
She was affectionately known as "Aunt Rosa" to many in her community, but as Mrs. Crawford if you were a student at Mangham High School where she taught for 22 years affecting the lives and future of many. She was a graduate of Rayville High School, Class of 1940, and received a Bachelor's of Science from Northeast Louisiana State College in 1958. She was a proud veteran serving in the first group of women enlisted in the Navy during World War II, 1943-45, training and serving in Naval Hospitals in Texas and California. In 1948, Mrs. Crawford was the first woman elected Commander of an American Legion Post in Louisiana. She was also a Rural Mail Carrier in the late 50's.
Aunt Rosa was passionate about service to others and lived out this commitment as a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Archibald serving as Principal of VBS for many years, proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, member of the Richland Parish Retired Teachers Association, responsible representative to the Archibald-Alto Water System Board, and ardent participant in the Order of the Eastern Star holding many offices and traveling extensively representing her local chapter as well as the State of Louisiana.
She was preceded in death by her parents Andrew J. Willis and Ethel Jackson Willis of Rayville, sister Ethel "Cookie" Willis Jones of Monroe, and brothers Andrew "Bully" J. Willis of Gretna and Z. R. Meredith of Alexandria.
She was affectionately known as "Aunt Rosa" to many in her community, but as Mrs. Crawford if you were a student at Mangham High School where she taught for 22 years affecting the lives and future of many. She was a graduate of Rayville High School, Class of 1940, and received a Bachelor's of Science from Northeast Louisiana State College in 1958. She was a proud veteran serving in the first group of women enlisted in the Navy during World War II, 1943-45, training and serving in Naval Hospitals in Texas and California. In 1948, Mrs. Crawford was the first woman elected Commander of an American Legion Post in Louisiana. She was also a Rural Mail Carrier in the late 50's.
Aunt Rosa was passionate about service to others and lived out this commitment as a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Archibald serving as Principal of VBS for many years, proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, member of the Richland Parish Retired Teachers Association, responsible representative to the Archibald-Alto Water System Board, and ardent participant in the Order of the Eastern Star holding many offices and traveling extensively representing her local chapter as well as the State of Louisiana.
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