With
Wholehearted Gratitude, Remembering
The
Late Reverend Rose Jones Wilson - Conclusion
More personally, Rose prioritized her
priestly duties as a wife, mother and grandmother. Her husband, Lionel, preceded her in
death. He fully supported her. I surmise
this was borne of her years of faithful ministry in marriage. Whereas we have great confidence in our
abilities as spouses, parenthood raises an entirely different set of anxieties
and challenges. Rose felt those feelings
and used them to strengthen her love and service in motherhood. On a few occasions, she reflected openly
about her heartfelt desire to be the best mother and grandmother of which she was
capable. The priestly functions of home
are far different from adorning vestments, ascending an elevated pulpit,
celebrating Holy Communion and reciting the words of institution. In contrast, priests at home find themselves
in the basement folding laundry, at the sink washing dishes, in the kitchen
cooking meals, walking around and setting the dinner table, leaving the dry
cleaners or pushing a cart of groceries to the car. Chief amongst household
priestly tasks is simply listening to the people whom we love and with whom we
live thereby giving them two of our most precious assets, time and
attention. Extended conversations can
also occur while running errands and during long drives.
These periods of talk, laughter and
banter allow parents to affirm their children and love them as unconditionally
as God does. A mother’s and
grandmother’s love powerfully illuminate their children’s paths to enable them
to see themselves as unique children of God.
Her wisdom and guidance enlighten their pathways to discerning their
destiny and utilizing their talents, abilities and endowments to achieve
it. More significantly, children and
grandchildren experientially and relationally learn the Christian faith as their
parents exemplify Christ’s character. Rose
embodied the principles and teachings that she endeavored to teach her beloved
daughter, Wakenna, and granddaughter, Ashanti.
If asked if they knew anyone who was genuinely a Christian disciple,
they would respond immediately by reciting Rose’s name.
Rose practiced spiritual disciplines with
diligence and encouraged her fellow disciples to do so the same. I admired her commitment to prayer and its
transformative nature. She loved the
Bible and its immortal words and infinite wisdom for faithful readers and
students. She always attended Christian
Education enrichment offerings. She
encouraged congregants to
embrace meditation and other spiritual disciplines as methods of acquiring
greater personal piety and integrity as Christian disciples. Her example enabled Rose to become a mentor
to younger Christians and an inspiration to her peers.
With wholehearted gratitude and praise
to Almighty God, I celebrate the life, labor, love and legacy of the late
Reverend Rose Jones Wilson. Equally, I
thank my late colleague and friend for her stalwart commitment as a Christian
disciple. As those of us who knew her
join Wakenna and Ashanti in sharing Rose’s unique and enduring story, she lives
eternally in our minds and hearts.
Finally, I join them, the extended Jones Wilson Family and the Emmanuel
Baptist Church congregation in thankfulness for Rose’s unique expression of
divine love, grace and service revealed through her invaluable legacy.
Grant unto our dearly departed sister and Thy
daughter, Rose, rest O Lord. Graciously
admit her to the communion of saints, the heavenly hosts and the goodly
fellowship of the eternally redeemed. Be
Thou kind, O Lord, and receive Rose into Thy direct presence. Let Thy love and light perpetually shine upon
her. Grant unto Rose rest O Lord and let
Thy light eternally shine upon her.
Perpetually grateful for her life,
The Reverend Victor M. Singletary
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