Rosa Lee (Blount) Stephenson

Saint Rosa Lee Stephenson was born on November 12, 1922, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. On January 13, 2018, Rosa Lee departed this life. She was the second of six children born to Emmett and Frances Blount, Sr. At a very young age, Rosa Lee joined the United House of Prayer for All People. She received her early education in the North Carolina public school system and graduated from Rocky Mount’s Booker T. Washington High School in 1941; continuing her education at Bricks (NC) Junior College.

Shortly thereafter, her father was hired by the C&O Railroad and in 1941 the family moved to Newport News, Virginia, where they became members of the Mother House.  Almost immediately, Rosa Lee eagerly began serving as secretary of the young people, and actively working with the House of Prayer registering new voters in the community. She often talked about how proud she was to be one of the first members and a trombone player for the Grace Emmanuel Band. Before leaving Newport News, she earned a certificate from Bertie’s School of Beauty Culture.

In 1944, she traveled to Mount Vernon, New York for vacation, and one night at the Savoy with her sister, Doretha, she met the love of her life, Charles Clinton Stephenson, Sr., who extended her stay for more than 70 years.  Rosa Lee and Charles married in New York on July 3, 1946.  The couple was blessed with three children: Charles, Jr., Ron, and Joyce. Rosa Lee continued to work in the Harlem United House of Prayer. She received her blessing in 1951, and in 1985, Rosa Lee answered Daddy McCollough’s call for Sainthood.

From Mount Vernon to Harlem, she traveled back and forth without wavering, while faithfully serving in many capacities: a  member and officer of her beloved Senior Nurses, providing emotional support during funerals and a myriad of multiple roles for other events. Rosa Lee was a talented member of the world-renowned New York Mother House Tambourine Band and one of the Elite “Friday Night Special” members! This exceptional group of women would come to be known as the “Golden Girls”, serving faithfully while becoming skilled prep room cafeteria team workers. She worked numerous jobs throughout her life, and retired as a residential Home Health Aide in Westchester County, New York.

“I won’t complain” and “Your Grace and Mercy”, her most cherished songs, depict her journey and truth; short-lived tribulations and blessings in perpetuity. She was best known for her uncanny ability to recite at any occasion at a moment’s notice with aplomb.  Her favorite poems included: “Somebody’s Mother”, “Keep a Going”, “It Couldn’t Be Done”  and of course “If Jesus Came to Your House.” She was true to her Faith, Spiritual Leaders, The Senior Nurses, McCollough Invaders, family, and friends.  There will be no bigger cheerleader, protector or advocate. When she loved, it was unconditional and forever!

Throughout decades of their historic 71 years of marriage and as role models to others, Rosa Lee and Charles received numerous acknowledgments from many notable and historic figures:  Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, as well as from mayors of Mount Vernon, Raleigh, and Members of Congress. One of her proudest moments was appearing in the Jet Magazine's, April 14, 1997, publication, celebrating 50 years of marriage alongside their son, Ronald and his wife Andrea, who commemorated 25 years. In a double gold and silver ceremony, the Stephenson’s together reaffirmed their wedding vows. To most, her history is no surprise. Her mind was like a sponge. She could tell you the actual day the week that each of her children where born. If you have been fortunate to spend more than 5 minutes chatting with Rosa Lee, eventually the conversation would get around to how her brothers and sisters were affectionately raised by Frances and Emmett. Rosa Lee, Chick, and Queenie would reminisce for hours and hours and over and over about things already discussed the day before.

In 2014, Rosa Lee and Charles relocated to the state of their birth.  They took up residence in the Meadows of Brier Creek in Raleigh, where they lived life independently to the fullest, and where she reveled in her daily walks (her “constitution”), self-reliantly managing the household budget, writing checks, paying bills (on time), shopping, cooking, and cleaning. She loved arranging her transportation on the public T-Link vans to attend Sunday morning services at Durham or Raleigh’s houses of worship. Sadly, in early 2017, health issues sent both of them to the Hillside Nursing facility in Wake Forest, where she resided until her final transition.

Rosa Lee now joins her loved ones who preceded her in death; Emmett Sr. (father), Frances Blount (mother), and siblings: Sally (Eddie), Doretha (Jimmy), Emmett Jr, and Joel (Ellen). 

She leaves to mourn, Charles Sr.(husband), Hilda Johnson (sister), Queenie Blount (sister in-law), children: Charles Jr. (Judith Burrell), Ron (Andrea), Joyce (Sterling), eight grandchildren: Tisha (Angelo), Ronnie Jr. (Jaime), Gerald Jr. (Kina), Dwight (Shante), Shana, Brandon, Corey (La-Neka), and Zora (Kevin), seven great grandchildren: Zanahya, Jeremiah, Ace, Laila, Caan, Jayce, and Abigail, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends around the world.