Rosa Marie Crawford, age 74 , Passed on October 2 ,2024

Rosa Marie Dixon was born on October 19^th, 1949, to Lonnie and Fannie Dixon in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

She grew up in Tuscaloosa, the oldest of four children. She was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church and attended Elizabeth Baptist Church with her grandfather.  She attended 20^th Street Elementary School, 30^th Avenue Elementary School and Druid High School.

It was a close community to which the Dixon family had strong ties, but this was especially true of the family’s connection to the schools. All of her teachers were the same teachers her parents had, and they were the same teachers her little brother and sisters would have – and they were former classmates of her grandparents. The connectedness to education early on fostered a commitment to life-long learning in Rosa.

In May of 1963, Rosa moved to Cleveland, Ohio with her sister and brother, Loretta and Lonnie. Her mother trusted her to lead them on the train trip north first while she continued to work in Alabama with Rysse, who was still a baby. It was Fannie’s plan to leave segregation behind and set up a better life for her family.

The Dixons settled in the E. 110^th neighborhood where she found the Beth-El A.M.E. Zion Church. The church, which was only two doors down, became a cornerstone of Rosa’s life.

She remained a faithful and dutiful member for over 50 years. She was a participant of the Missionary Society, Young Adult Choir, Voices of Beth-El, SGV Choir, vacation bible school, and the Sunday school department.

Rosa’s devout Christian Walk was so apparent that the late Rev. Emmett Foster appointed her as an Exhorter.  She was most dedicated; she served in any capacity when needed with an attitude of gratitude. She raised her family in church, bringing her son, Christopher, and her grandson, Nathan.

She graduated from John Hay High School in 1967 and her enthusiasm for learning continued, manifesting in different ways. While balancing a full-time job, she attended Notre Dame College studying Spanish and business. She was a voracious reader and enjoyed doing puzzles and crosswords. She was always game for a debate whether it was on Hilary Clinton’s campaign strategy or which Marvel villain could beat the X-Men.

She was a natural business woman that seemed to always have a good opportunity in front of her – no doubt due to her hard work. Her employment included Mt. Sinai Hospital, Cleveland Trust Bank, Comcast, Continental Airlines, and lastly, her beloved Ohio Bell/AT&T. Her love for AT&T (and the friends she made there) was so deep that she un-retired several times before retiring for good around 2008.

Her hobbies included singing, shopping, traveling, sewing, going to casinos, and cooking (she had the reputation of being the best gourmet cook in the family). She loved and was a fantastic dancer, which may be surprising given her reserved nature. Modern dance was her forte.

Chief among her passions was her family. She loved being a mom and was well-known in her son’s social circles, often attending his basketball games and other after-school activities. She was a hands-on grandmother, taking an active role in Nathan’s life. She led him to Christ and kept him close as he went through school. She encouraged him to try new things and was instrumental in him traveling to London when he was a student at Cleveland Heights High School.

As an aunt, she was beloved. She had a reputation for being no-nonsense but would eagerly spend time with her niece and nephews either teaching them to cook, watching Saturday cartoons with them or just being a sounding board for life advice.

After a short illness, our matriarch succumbed On October 2, 2024. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Lonnie. She leaves behind her only son Christopher Crawford (Dorrene), six grandchildren, two great grandchildren, two sisters Loretta Larkin (Reginald) and Eddye Rysse Dixon, a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends, and cherished fur babies.

Humbly prepared by the family.