Celebration o f Life
for
Rose Mary R Ghompson Moye
March 1, 1931 ~ January 12, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
12:00 Noon
Trinity United Methodist Church
185 Boulevard Orangeburg, South Carolina Reverend Larry McCutcheon, Pastor
O rd e r o f cSeru ice
Q S itu a ry

Order of Service
The Prelude.............................................................................................. Michael Ellis, Organist
Processional..................................................................................................... Clergy and Family
H ym n........................................................................................................................ Congregation "O God Our Help in Ages Past " -- Page 117
Scripture Reading Old Testament.............................................................................................................Psalm 23 New Testament.................................................................................................John 14:1-3,27
Prayer of Comfort................................................................................... Rev. Larry McCutcheon
H ym n........................................................................................................................ Congregation "It Is Well With My Soul " - Page 377

Witnesses Dr. Carl Carpenter, South Carolina State University Mrs. Patricia Lott, S.C.S.U. National Alumni Association Mrs. Dorothy Jarvis, S.C.S.U., Class o f 1953 Mrs. Georgia Montgomery, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Mrs. Angela Moye White, Family Mr. Myron Moye, Family
Affirmation of Faith..................................................................................................Congregation Page 881
Words of Comfort................................................................................... ^ ev- Larry McCutcheon
Musical Selection...................................................................................... Jarvis Brothers Quartet

Commendation Closing Hymn.
Recessional.... Postlude

...................................Donald Jarvis (1st Verse) and Congregation "A Hymn o f Promise" - Page 707
.................................................................Clergy and Family .............................Michael Ellis
O rd er o f (Sero/ce

ROSE MARY E. THOMPSON MOYE was born on March 1, 1931, in Memphis, Tennessee, the first child of Ernestine Meredith Burr and Wiley Desvemey Thompson. After her mother passed away, Rose came to Orangeburg, South Carolina, to live with her paternal grandparents and beloved aunts, Mamie and Beatrice. Orangeburg was and would always be her "home."
Rose attended Felton Training School on the campus of South Carolina State College (now S.C. State University) and excelled as a student and was named Miss Felton by her classmates. From there she matriculated to Wilkinson High School where she was active in many student organizations, was inducted into the National Honor Society and. was a Homecoming Queen. In her senior year, Rose was editor of the school newspaper, the Wilkinsonian.
In 1949 Rose entered SCSC, earned membership in the Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society and was initiated into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, serving as President in the 1952-1953 school term. On January 23, 1953, Rose was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Education and moved to Columbia, South Carolina, to work as a librarian at Booker T. Washington High School. Rose was an active life-member of the SCSC Alumni National Association, serving as Secretary/Treasurer for several years and rarely missed the oppor tunity to return to Orangeburg for a homecoming or class reunion.
On August 1, 1953, Rose and Harold were married at her family home. With the marriage Rose embarked on an adventure as an Army wife traveling to Georgia, Alabama, Alaska, New Jersey, Northern Virginia (the Pentagon), Texas, Stuttgart, Germany, Fort Fee, Virginia, and finally a return to Orangeburg when Harold was appointed Professor of Military Science at SCSC. In these assign ments, Rose was respected as the perfect military wife, enduring the strains of family moves across the country every few years, serv ing on committees and in organizations for military wives - often in leadership positions - and living with the uncertainty of Harold's two tours of duty in Vietnam. Rose worked at various jobs over the period of Harold's military career - as a teacher at a facility for children with cerebral palsy and as a librarian at her alma maters, Wilkinson High School and SCSC.
Rose's first son Harold, Jr. was born in 1954 and in 1956, their second son, Myron Desvemey. Sadly, Doris and Gerald died at birth in 1961. The pain of that tragedy was erased by Angela joining the family in 1968. Rose was a devoted and proud mother and the "Moye boys," and later Angela, could always be counted on to be freshly scrubbed, well-dressed, and the best-mannered children whatever the occasion. Rose's high standards for her children were tempered by a beautiful smile and laugh that she shared freely with them, a fierce loyalty to their interests and well-being. Rose was there - a beaming smile and tears in her eyes - for every grad uation, honor, or significant achievement or moment in the life of her children, never seeking credit but always responsible in some way for the achievement. The prid. shsJound in raising three children to adulthood was the inspiration of herUife.^s*
With Harold's retirement from the Army, the family settled in Prince George, Virginia, and a new home was established at 1507 Fakeside Drive. Rose's home was a favorite location for the annual Christmas party of the Richmond-Petersburg chapter of the SCSC Alumni Association and anyone from the "garnet and blue" was always a welcomed visitor. Thanksgiving and Christmas often saw the return of the kids and grandkids for for gatherings to savor Rose's spirit for the season (and of course her signature Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts). At just about any other time you could also find a niece or nephew visiting "Aunt Rose," with a great story to tell afterwards and most summers you would find Rose shepherding the new joys of her life - her grandkids.
In Prince George, Rose was an anchor of the community, making lasting friendships with her neighbors, serving in communi ty organizations and taking an active role in the local Democratic party. As a result, Rose was appointed to the Prince George County Electoral Board and was eventually elevated to President of the Board. Rose served in this capacity for more than 15 years, estab lishing herself as a fair and able elections administrator and earning the respect and friendship of County staff and fellow Board mem bers (Republican and Democrat alike). Rose was also well-known for her creative and thoughtful Christmas displays that attracted visitors from throughout the county.
In early 2010, not long after traveling to West Virginia to attend the graduation of her granddaughter DeFaney, Rose learned of her diagnosis of incurable cancer. Reflecting the principle that character is defined by how we meet the inevitable challenges in life, Rose determined that her life would not change - she would continue to look forward. She approached this challenge with charac teristic good humor and always felt more pain for the impact of this news on family and friends than she felt for herself. It was not easy battling the illness that slowly worked its way through her body, but one would never have known of the difficulties that she endured - her smile was never less radiant, her commitment to work, family and friends unchanged, and her sense of fulfillment in the life that she had led unaltered. She was most proud of the fact that despite her illness she was able to travel to South Carolina to see her granddaughter Cara graduate from high school in the summer of 2010.
Rose presided over a last Thanksgiving celebration with her children and grandchildren that recalled all of the love and good time of her past 79 years. She was also able to share a final Christmas with them as well. Shortly, after Christmas and after wishing all of her family blessings for the New Year, Rose entered the hospital and finally ended the battle with cancer that she had fought for the past year. Her passing was in her style and on her own terms: comfortable with the life that she had led, in the presence and embrace of Harold, Myron and Angela, and with courage that will continue to inspire all of us as we hold her memory close.
Rose will remain forever young in the memory of her husband Harold and her children Myron of Berkeley, California, and Angela White (Wayne) of Columbia, South Carolina. She will be missed by her sister Barbara T. Townsend (Zack) of Orangeburg, South Carolina; and her grandchildren Harold Moye III (Savannah, Georgia), DeFaney Moye (Charlotte, North Carolina), and Cara, Myron and Marlon White (Columbia, South Carolina). In addition to the immediate family members, Rose is survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends.

When I come to the end of the road, And the sun has set for me,
I riant no rites in gloom-filled rooms, Why cry f ir a soul set free?
Miss me a little hut not too long, And not riith your head horied lori; Remember the lo^e that rie once shared
Miss me - hut let me go.

Tor this is a journey that rie all must take, And each must go alone.
I t 's all a part of the Master's plan, A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick at heart, Qo to the friends rie knori,
And bury your sorroris in doing good deeds. Miss me - hut let me go.
Tdgar Albert Quest

JK em o ries

`Acknowledgement
The Family acknowledges with sincere thanks and appreciation all acts o f kind ness expressed during the passing o f our loved one, Rose Mary E. Thompson Moye. May God bless each o f you.

J. M. W ilke rson Funeral Establishment, Inc. w w w .jm w ilke rso n sin cel874.com
"Where sympathy expresses itself through sincere service" 102 South Avenue Petersburg, Virginia 804.732.8911

John W. Wilkerson, Jr. President

Shelton W. Smith General Manager/Funeral Director