Rose Maxson peacefully passed away in her home last Thursday on August 18, 1977, at the age of 63 after fighting a lengthy battle with breast cancer. She was a beloved mother, wife, and community member more than anything else. She touched many lives of those fortunate enough to have met her. She was well respected for her spirit and outreach in the community where she strived to make a difference. Born May 12, 1914, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she was raised by her mother and father, alongside her two half-sisters and half-brother.  

In 1939, Rose became married at the age of Twenty-five, and lived most of her days as the devoted stay-at-home wife alongside her beloved husband of twenty-six years, Troy Maxson, prior to his passing of a heart attack that claimed his life in their home in 1965. She was loyal, devoted, and supportive to her husband. She was Troy's right-hand man and stood by him throughout their hardships for many years. Though she was the true definition of a homemaker she was also the definition of a powerful African American woman. She challenged what being a woman was supposed to look like during her time. She was headstrong and stood up for herself, her beliefs, and her family. She demanded respect and did not stay hush because that was said to be the expectation of what an obedient woman was supposed to do. She loved her husband and did whatever she had to do to keep her family together. It was said that "Some people build fences to keep people out and other people build fences to keep people in". Rose lived to protect her family and put her needs aside when she needed to.  

Shortly after her marriage at twenty-six Rose became a mother to Troys second son Cory, 29 who also was a great athlete like his father, due to the encouragement and support of his mother. Rose had always encouraged her family to strive and pushed her children to pursue their desires in becoming anything they dreamed of. She always believed in her son and knew that he would grow to be the fine young man he is and reminded him of the person he came to be whenever it is he lost sense of who he was. Rose was the true essence of a mother, well known for her loving, kind, and nurturing nature, but also strict when the time called for it. Her family also included Troy's first son Lyons from a previous relationship, 46. She always supported Lyons and saw him for the kindhearted soul he was. Troy's daughter Raynell, 19, who was conceived outside their marriage came as a bittersweet surprise to Rose. Knowing a child is innocent and should not pay for their father's sins, Rose took on the role as the young girl's mother after her biological mother Alberta died during her labor. Though Raynell may not have been her biological daughter, Rose loved her and raised her as such. Rose was the maternal gentleness, and selfless, an angel some would say. Being a mother was her biggest accomplishment.  

Her faith in God is what has shaped her into a compassionate and forgiving woman. She did her absolute best to make a difference in her community. She dedicated much of her spare time volunteering at her local church, where you could find her taking part in singing in the church choir. She was immensely popular there, especially at the annual bake sales where she sold her famous cakes to help raise money. She always found happiness in helping those that needed a hand. Most of this time she focused on guiding orphan children in performing daily needs like cooking, cleaning, and being loving. This is because these children did not have mothers to teach them or do for them. She considered these kids to be like all the babies she always wanted but never had.  

Rose found delight in cooking; this is how she demonstrated love to those around her. With the financial help of her brother-in-law Gabe who suffered from a brain injury in the war. Together they opened a soup kitchen in order to help the community. Here she also held public speaking to raise awareness on mental health, resources for veterans injured in battle, to encourage others to stand up for themselves, and to teach women about the importance of their voices and gave woman a safe place to stay when they needed it.  

Rose Maxson will truly be missed. However, she will continue to live on in our hearts with the love of her children, friends, and community. She was a one-of-a-kind woman that paved a way for African American women to walk and changed the vision on what it was to be an African American woman, wife, and mother.