A homegoing celebration for Mother Rosa E. Edwards of Tampa, Florida, who passed away on Thursday, June 7, 2018, will be held on Saturday, June 16th, 12:00 p.m. at Cathedral of Faith Church, Inc., 6304 N. 30th Street, Archbishop James H. Howell, Sr., pastor officiating. The interment will be in Sunset Memory Gardens Cemetery, Thonotosassa, Florida. Mother Rosa was born November 11, 1928 in Ocilla, Georgia to the late Edd S. Merritt and Rosetta Merritt.
Rosa was the oldest child of twenty children, ten boys and ten girls with two sets of twins that she helped raise. Rosa grew up in Adel, Georgia, where she attended elementary and high school in Cook County Public School System. Rosa continued her education at Volusia County Vocational-Technical College, in Daytona Beach, Florida.
There, she studied furniture upholstery and completed her studies with a certification. Rosa also was a head/chef cook in several restaurants. Rosa had seven children with a set of twins, she loved and worked very hard for her children.
Her hobbies were crocheting and sewing; she could make clothes without a sewing pattern. Mother Edwards was a faithful member and a mother at Cathedral of Faith Church, Inc. At the early age of five, Rosa knew God, she loved going to church, singing in the choir and being with her Cathedral of Faith Church family. Rosa was preceded in death by her husband, Eddie Edwards; son, Robert Lee Hannah, Jr., twin; daughter, Mattie Ruth “Hannah” Brown; granddaughters, Jackie Ford, brothers, Rulis, Jessie, Eddie and Clemens Merritt; sisters, Eleanora, Retha-May, Elizabeth, and Verlis Merritt and Betty Jean (Inez) Woods.
She leaves to cherish precious memories with her 5 children, Joann Wright (Freddie), Viola Gillis (Anthony), Dwain Hannah (Arnita), Robbin Nell Kimbrough (Willie) and Keith Hannah (Naoko); grandchildren, Ardraka Dundas, Patricia (Pat), James and Amanda Scott, Robert Earl Tiller, Adeesha Haley, (Freddie 11), Michael, Melvin and Kelvin Wright (Commondry) and Levon Darthard, Terrell Dixon, Keisha Johnson, Nimi and Dorian Hannah, Nangwaya Kimbrough, Shani Young, Bakari, Shakir and Thaddeus Hannah; great and great great grandchildren; brothers, Charles, Cleo, Obie (Evelyn), Roger (Carol), Cleveland and Whitley Merritt; sisters, Bessie Lee, Mary, and Helen; sister-in-law, Lillie Mae Merritt; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. The visitation will be held at Cathedral of Faith Church, Inc., from 5 to 7 p.m. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. The family and friends are asked to meet at the church on Saturday for the service.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
