Funeral services for Rose Cooper Smitherman, age 82 of Fayetteville, will be conducted Saturday at 11 a.m. at Higgins Funeral Home with Bro. Mike Thomason officiating. Burial will follow at 1:30 p.m. at Oakhill Cemetery in Jasper, AL beside her husband John Smitherman. Mrs. Smitherman passed away Tuesday at Bailey Manor.
She was a native of Jasper, AL and the daughter of the late Ralph R. and Dollie Baker Cooper. Mrs. Smitherman graduated from Curry High School in Jasper, AL in 1949 and was a retired legal secretary for Jack Daniel Distillery. She was a member of the Church of Christ.
Survivors include a sister Carolyn Cooper Morgan and husband Lawrence of Shawnee, KS, nieces Patricia Osbern of Shawnee, KS, great niece and nephew Zachary Osbern and Carolyn Osbern of Shawnee, KS, nephew John Edward Kelly and wife Kristen of Verol Beach, FL, great niece and nephew Edward J. Kelly III, and Padriag J. Kelly, Caitlyn Kelly all of Verol Beach, FL, niece Reba Kelly Phillips and husband David of Collinsville, IL,amd niece Jeanie and Redge Thagard of Willington, AL.
Mrs. Smitherman was preceded in death by three brothers Ralph, John and Arthur B. Cooper and three sisters Ruby Kelly, Dolly Walls and Priscilla Cooper.
Visitation with the family will be Sat from 10am-11am at Higgins Funeral Home.
Dearest Rosie, “Zozie”, as my sister and I called her, was one of the kindest and warmest human beings I have ever met. Next to my father, mother and sister, she was the closest of my many kin during childhood, and she was like a surrogate parent during my father’s many extended travels abroad. The eight siblings of Rosie’s family shared strong bonds welded by the unimaginable hardships of depression-era Alabama, and they mostly enjoyed excellent relations throughout their lives. My mother Reba and she were especially close, however, always gravitating towards one another and even living together at times in Honolulu and San Francisco. I remember my mother always recounting how hard-working Rosie was, that she never complained when there was no money for clothes or shoes, that she was always able to bring laughter to the most awkward situations. My sister and I always looked especially forward to visiting Rose and her husband John when they lived in Colorado, Virginia, Ohio, California and Tennessee, and we invariably found ourselves laughing harder and longer than we ever had before. After I left home, my mother and Rose spoke daily and they remained very close until the end of my mother’s life.
Rosie had a fiercely independent streak, and I know she was not happy to be taken from the home she loved. Still, she made the best of the situation, and it was very heartwarming to see her ability to bring smiles and laughter to the frail elderly persons with whom she spent her last years. The first time I visited her unannounced at Bailey Manor, I was moved to tears at seeing photos of my sister and myself outside her door, which I read as confirmation of a great and mutual love. It breaks my heart that it is not possible to pay my last respects in person, but a huge purple candle is burning at the center of our home in remembrance of Beautiful Rosie. It serves as a symbol of the eternal love felt for my deeply adored Aunt Zozie.
May God bless you and hold you in the palm of His hand, beloved Zozie…
Little John
To my dearest Rosie, my Mama #2: what a joyous gift you were to the world and to our family. You were with me from the minute I was born and have been in my heart ever since. My many fond memories of Rosie include great big bear hugs, a robust belly laugh, great dancer, sweet and generous spirit, always ready for something fun, lover of all animals, a talented artist, and a sparkling twinkle in her eye. Always with a cup of coffee (and that darned cigarette), Rosie loved life and never complained about the many hardships she endured over the years. I will always treasure the time spent with Rosie – in San Francisco (bumping down the staircase!), Salt Lake City (the skiing boo-boo), Denver, Tustin, Chillicothe, Richmond (New Year’s Eve and the snow storm that ruined Mama’s fur coat!), St. Louis, Jasper, Mulberry, and more. Rosie gave me my first Barbie doll and introduced me to skinny-dipping in her backyard pool in Tustin – fortunately, that didn’t become a habit!
Rosie was stunningly beautiful, unusually olive-skinned (for our family) with exotic features. What you can’t see in the posted photograph of Rosie is something that her husband, John, adored about her – the hair on the other side of her face always left just a teeny bit of ear lobe exposed. Uncle John just loved to see that tiny bit of exposed ear! Rosie and John were the love of each other’s lives, and John has been gone for such a long time. I know Rosie is now gloriously happy – laughing and kicking up her heels dancing with her dearest John – deliriously elated to be together again, at last.
I love you, my sweet Rosie. You will always be in my heart.
Your “Baby” Reba
Dearest Rosie, “Zozie”, as my sister and I called her, was one of the kindest and warmest human beings I have ever met. Next to my father, mother and sister, she was the closest of my many kin during childhood, and she was like a surrogate parent during my father’s many extended travels abroad. The eight siblings of Rosie’s family shared strong bonds welded by the unimaginable hardships of depression-era Alabama, and they mostly enjoyed excellent relations throughout their lives. My mother Reba and she were especially close, however, always gravitating towards one another and even living together at times in Honolulu and San Francisco. I remember my mother always recounting how hard-working Rosie was, that she never complained when there was no money for clothes or shoes, that she was always able to bring laughter to the most awkward situations. My sister and I always looked especially forward to visiting Rose and her husband John when they lived in Colorado, Virginia, Ohio, California and Tennessee, and we invariably found ourselves laughing harder and longer than we ever had before. After I left home, my mother and Rose spoke daily and they remained very close until the end of my mother’s life.
Rosie had a fiercely independent streak, and I know she was not happy to be taken from the home she loved. Still, she made the best of her last years, and it was very heartwarming to see her ability to bring smiles and laughter to the frail elderly persons with whom she spent her last years. The first time I visited her unannounced at Bailey Manor, I was moved to tears at seeing photos of my sister and myself outside her door, which I read as confirmation of a great and mutual love. It breaks my heart that it is not possible to pay my last respects in person, but a huge purple candle is burning at the center of our home in remembrance of Beautiful Rosie. It serves as a symbol of the eternal love felt for my deeply adored Aunt Zozie.
May God bless you and hold you in the palm of His hand, beloved Zozie…
Little John
I am so Sorry to hear about the passing of Mrs .Rose.She was a Dear Sweet Lady.I took care of her at the old Hospital.Lincoln Regional Hospital and she would always look me up to care for her and even try to come on the days I worked.She was such a Happy Lady, no matter how bad somethimes she felt.I will always remember her stories she use to share .You will truely be missed and may God be with all your Family.Brenda Burns
So sorry for the loss of a dear sweet lady..I am sorry I didnt know she was at Bailey Manor,I would loved to have visited her, just lost touch over the years. She was a wonderful lady to work with. I loved her a lot, we shared goat conservations.I would give her rides to work in the 80s occassionally, since I went passed her home. Always smiling and always sweet
I was so blessed to have met Ms. Rose. She had a smile that would melt my heart. My prayers are with your family.