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Rev. Rosemary
Johnson-Ellis-Anderson one of Ohio
North A.M.E.
Church’s
first female pastor, will long be remembered for her service in northern
Ohio.
Rev. Anderson passed away after complications from leg surgery in
Decatur,
Georgia early Wednesday, January 1, 2003. But, it was her warm
smile, humility and willingness to help her fellow man that was the hallmark of
her life.
A born in
Elyria
on August 14, 1919, Rev.
Anderson was a graduate of Elyria
High
School. She was a soprano soloist who performed
in many choir concerts in Elyria,
Springfield,
and Youngstown. She recorded a religious
album produced by Steel Records and also performed on stage at
Packard
Music Hall in Warren
with the Kenley Players
Rev.
Anderson married William Ellis; both were
students at Wilberforce
University
and settled in Springfield, Ohio.
The Ellis’s were the proud parents of four children, William,
Valanta, Rhetta Jo and Carlton.
They were lifelong partners in everything they did: the
A.M.E.
Church, Masonic organizations, The
Assault on Illiteracy Program (AOIP), NAACP chapters in Springfield,
Youngstown, Akron
and Portage County;
and the National Newspaper Publisher Association (NNPA). She volunteered as a
spiritual advisor to the National AOPIP and the National Newspaper Association
(NNAP). As a member of the Ohio Republican Council, she also co-wrote and
recorded a republican campaign song.
A talented
and articulate woman, a graduate of Youngstown
State University.
Rev. Anderson also attended Wilberforce
University,
Wittenberg
University, and Payne Theological Seminary.
She focused on education and tutored adults to read. She was a leading proponent
for the national AOIP program.
 Rev.
Anderson was made an African Methodist Episcopal pastor under Bishop Harold I.
Bearden. Rev. Anderson, assisted by her husband led the rebuilding of Asbury
Chapel of Waynesburg, Ohio. She
also pastored Allen Chapel of Ravenna,
St James of Struthers, and St John of Youngstown. She served as president and
board member of the Interdenominational Clergywomen’s Alliance
in Youngstown. She and her husband
traveled to many countries including Japan,
Korea, Europe,
Egypt, Israel
and Africa on a religious tour.
She worked
at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton
and the Ohio Bureau of Unemployment Service in Youngstown.
She retired from the Bursar’s Office of Youngstown State University in 1974.
She was office manager for The Reporter Newspaper until failing health forced
her to retire.
Rev. Anderson found great joy in her
immediate family and the Johnson-Barnes Family Reunion. She was preceded in
death by her mother Mrs. Anna Mae Johnson-Wade, husbands Rev. Atty.
William
R. Ellis of Youngstown, and Mr.
Samuel Anderson of Springfield, Ohio; brothers- Allen Johnson of Cleveland, and
Freddie Johnson of Sturgis, Kentucky; and great-aunt Carrie Williams
of Elyria, Ohio.
Left to
mourn her demise are: daughters Mrs. Valanta (Michael) Brown of Columbia, S.C,
and Mrs. Rhetta (Eddie) Williams of Lithonia,
Georgia; sons William (Florida) Ellis,
Jr.
Editor/Publisher of The Reporter and Carton Ellis, City Editor; sister: Dorothy
(Leo) Sutherland of Cleveland, Ohio; Brother-in-law Mr. Crystal Ellis of
Toledo; seven grand children. Mrs. Anitra (Ransford) Bailey of Cleveland, Mrs.
Tennille (Sean) Brathwaite of Snellville, Georgia, Miss Chantee M. Ellis of
Orlando, Florida, Michael Brown of Columbia, S.C., Eddie Williams
Jr., and Sierra Williams
of Lithonia, Georgia; Janelle and Jana Eley of Youngstown, Ohio; 3 great
grandchildren: Ransford, Jasmine and Jaelynn Bailey of Cleveland, Ohio
Funeral services
were held on Friday, January 10th 2003 at the L.E. Funeral Home of Youngstown,
Ohio. Rev. Rosemary was laid to rest along side her husband Rev., Atty.
William
R. Ellis in Green Haven
Memorial Garden,
Austintown,
Ohio.
(The Reporter, January 4, 2003)
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