Christine Speller was born January 3, 1940 in Savannah, Georgia, daughter of (the late) Lucille Geter Speller and Dorsey Chrome Speller. Christine passed away in Wyckoff Heights Hospital on Friday morning, April 16, 2018 during a tumultuous rain storm that most New Yorkers will never forget, as the City was flooded and water was everywhere. Please be assured, Christine would more than likely say that God wanted to make sure we never forget her, so HE selected that day for Christine to make a GRAND EXIT .
. . and she did.
Christine’s nuclear family was composed of her mother, father, older brother Benny (deceased), sister Julia and baby sister Stacey — the introduction Christine rendered when introducing her siblings. Christine’s family migrated from Georgia to Oakridge Tennessee when she was seven years old, and years later her family moved to New York City. Christine attended elementary school in New York where she also went to Maxwell High School as a teen.
Christine was smart, witty, competitive, humorous, and an avid card and Dominoes player. Moreover, she was an excellent cook. Her sweet potato pies and potato salad were so delicious, anyone who ate her food once, could not resist coming back for seconds.
If you engaged in conversation with her, you would soon discover that she wanted it to be known that she was a descendent of the Native American Black Foot Tribe, and she loved western movies. Christine had no problem letting you know how smart she was, and that all of her grands had potential, were successful and had good jobs or degrees because of her intellectual genes that run through their bodies; and it made no sense to dispute her because you would be wasting your breath. In her youth, Christine was united in marriage to (the late) Walter Noble Ross, Sr., a lead gospel singer of a group she traveled with, and boasted of playing the tambourine for professionally during their performances.
Through their union, six children were conceived: Walter Noble Ross, Jr., Eric Steven Ross, Sr. (deceased), Veronica Ross, Albert Ross, John Ross (deceased) and Lester Ross. Christine was an enforcer, commanded attention and always said what was on her mind … “straight up no chaser” … and gave no excuse, even if your feelings were hurt — a character trait needed for a mother of five boys and one sweet girl. It was amazing to see her stand at the top of the steps of 64 Covert Street yelling: “Walter Noble, Eric Steven, Albert, Johnny,” when the boys were close to missing curfew.
They would run down the street like track stars sprinting in a marathon, while Lester, too young to hang out with the big kids, stood by waiting to see who would be getting a whopping (lol). And if we listen closely, we can almost hear her saying, “I was so good, my feet didn’t have to hit the sidewalk to get those boys in the house”. Christine was a housewife that entered the workforce after raising her children.
As a matter of fact, she used her life experience with children as a vehicle to obtain employment in the public school system as a Paraprofessional to educate and work with other children. Later in life, Christine married (the late) Glenroy Givans who affectionately called her “Blacks”. They had great times traveling, attending various functions and playing Dominoes.
Of course he was her in-house Dominoes partner. Christine was a Sister of Order of Eastern Star, and leaves to cherish her precious memories, her sisters: Julia and Baby Stacey; her children: Walter, Veronica and Lester; eight grandchildren: Simone Pierce, Ebony L, Nikeya, Ronnnisha, Jacoy, John, Jr., Eric, Jr., Naquan and seventeen great- grandchildren; daughters-in-law: Marie and Brenda; son-in-law Brother Jerry X; grandson-in-law Antonio Pierce; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
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