His Story

Roosevelt (Rose) was born November 1, 1941 in Sledge, Mississippi to the late Robert Abron and Classie Brown. Rose was a graduate of North Chicago High School.

He accepted Christ in 1990 at Zion Freedom Chapel under Pas. George Cleare. He moved to Florence, AL in 2000 where he served at Good Hope MB Church under Pastors F. C. Rowlett, Rodney Harris, and Ralph Thompson. In 2010 he joined Trinity MB Church where Trevor M. Crenshaw was his pastor.

He married Anita Abron with whom he had two children. In May 1975 he met Eunice McKelvy and in 1990 the two were married. Together they have three children. Rose worked in Winthrop Harbor, IL at ZB Auto Body for over 20 years. In Alabama he continued auto body work at Costume Marine in Muscle Shoals and later at Dukes Marina with Jerry Duke.

Those who knew Rose knew how much he cherished his family and his life. On Saturdays, he could often be seen cutting his grass or washing "the yellow car" in his driveway. He loved having his family and friends over so that he could spoil them with his "famous" grilled ham and slow cooked greens. Down in his man cave, also known as the basement, he would lure new comers into a " friendly " game of pool to pass the time, only to beat the pants off them. On Sunday morning, he could be found on the front row at Trinity waiting to love on and be loved on by his church family.

After a long battle with lymphoma, on Wednesday October 3, 2018, God called his servant home. Rose leaves to cherish his memory, his loving and devoted wife Eunice, his children Roosevelt Jr. (Nancy) of Elk Grove, IL, Terrance (Naveen) of Waukegan, IL, Monica of Tuscumbia, AL, Dawn of Zion, IL, Makia of Florence, AL; three sisters, Cheri, Dede (Elis), and Lisa, all of San Antonio, TX; three in-laws, Betty of Sheffield, AL, Janice (Jimmy) of Muscle Shoals, AL, and Kenneth McKelvy of Florence, AL; six grandchildren Erica, Austin, Jonet, Maria-Lisa, Elijah, Colby; one great-grandchild, Nevena; a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews; as well as several "honorary" siblings, Ellanor "Fruitti" Smith, Melvin Taylor and the entire Taylor Family, Robert Kindle, Edna Ford, Laney Goodloe and her entire family, Uzo and Elaine Mokwunye, and James Jackson.