In memory of Rose Lee Jeans, Jodi Gentry lit a candle

In memory of Rose Lee Jeans, Susie lit a candle

In memory of Rose Lee Jeans, Felicia Denise Neal lit a candle

Our deepest condolences to our family. My dear cousin is gonna be truly missed. We share many great memories. My prayers are lifted for the family.

When She Was Rose: A Memorial Tribute My heart overflows with gratitude for the life of my beloved sister, Rose. When I was adopted as a baby into the Richardson household — already bustling with eight children — she embraced me wholeheartedly, fully, fiercely, and without condition. Though we were two decades apart, we shared a bed and a bedroom; I was hers from the very beginning. She filled my earliest years with guidance, care, and a love that shaped me in ways I will carry always. From the start, Rose filled my world with joy, discovery, and possibility. She gifted me beautiful dresses — from rompers to prom gowns — and took me to the infamous Ms. Wickers of Cleveland’s Coats and Clarks Sewing School on Saturday mornings to learn to sew them. I can still picture the smell of the fabric, the hum of the sewing machines, the quiet pride in her eyes as I stitched my first seam. She also gave me books of nursery rhymes, poetry, and little treasures that sparked my imagination. But above all, she gave me her time. She taught me a love for learning through the alphabet, and she taught me independence by showing me how to tie my own shoelaces — how to rely on myself with quiet confidence. Rose naturally embodied loyalty and protection. As a preschooler, I once followed her like a little puppy to the bus stop on her way downtown — completely unbeknownst to her. When she discovered me and the rain began to fall, she didn’t scold. Instead, she took me on the bus ride to a high-end downtown department store and, on an apprentice’s budget, bought me the cutest raincoat and matching bonnet. I can still feel the warmth of her hand guiding mine that day. That was Rose: sheltering, guiding, loving in ways both grand and tender. She continued to guide me through young adulthood with wisdom, patience, and unwavering belief — cheering at school programs, beaming at my Honor Society induction, applauding my presentations, and driving me to Boston for my first day of college. She opened doors that shaped my career, planned my wedding with meticulous love, and stood beside me when I welcomed my daughter, who proudly bears her name. She listened through tears, supported me through disappointments, and taught me everything from the sublime to the meticulous — but most of all, how to keep my spirit steady and my heart open. Rose’s joie de vivre was unmatched. Every gathering she hosted overflowed with joy, laughter, and her unmistakable spark. She often called life’s quirks “comical,” reflecting her humor and her remarkable ability to find light even in unexpected places. That same light infused a life beautifully shaped by the friendships she nurtured over the years. Those she fondly called “her girls” stood by her with unwavering devotion, just as she stood by them. She cherished those bonds deeply; they were a golden thread woven through every season of her life — truly priceless. In her final chapter, our family had the sacred privilege of caring for her. As one of her caregivers, Rose and I — sister to sister — shared memories, secrets, laughter, and love as we gently, and sometimes not-so-gently, wrestled with life’s unfinished pieces until the very end. Even as she understood her time was drawing close, her wit remained sharp, and her spirit unbroken. She urged me to live — live, live — with intention and forward motion, knowing she could no longer be there for me at the bus stop. Her mantra, “1, 2, 3, 4, 5” (which she said our great-nephew Kam Kam taught her), will forever echo in my heart as a call to courage and determination. Rose lived boldly, joyfully, and unapologetically. I will continue to honor her by doing the same — living boldly, loving fiercely, laughing freely, moving forward, and carrying her with me always. My gratitude for her love, her guidance, and her presence in my life is everlasting. The title of this tribute comes from something she whispered to me near the end: “When I was Rose, then…” — a gentle, tender reflection on the life she had lived and an acknowledgment of an awareness of her transition, spoken with clarity, humor, and grace. Though she has now stepped into her next great adventure, Rose will remain with me and with us — in memory, in spirit, and in the quiet, sacred spaces of the heart……………. still. — Lovingly written by her sister, Susie (Nadra Dunbar)

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.