It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of our other mother, Rosa Kennedy. She was born January 12, 1923 in Lawrence County, Mississippi, and died August 2, 2018 at her home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
She lived a very long and productive life, 95½ years. In 1945, Rosa graduated from Blue Mountain Women’s College in Mississippi. She came to Baton Rouge and went to work for the State of Louisiana. She eventually became the Assistant Chief Analyst for the Louisiana Department of Conservation. During these years, she became a member of our family, meeting and marrying our father. She was gracious and loving and welcomed us into her life. She and Daddy were wonderful grandparents and helped us raise our children.
Patience was one of her greatest virtues. She was generous of spirit and sharp as a tack. After retiring from the state, she and Daddy became realtor-brokers selling numerous tracks of land in and around Baton Rouge mainly the property of old friends. She got involved in the home building business, helping some of the premier builders of the day. She finally really retired from Burns and Company at age 81. Paul Burns was one of her dearest friends.
Growing up in St. Francisville, Louisiana in a genteel old southern family with servants. She had to learn how to cook and clean. But learn she did. She eventually became a good cook.
And she could make the best homemade candy ever! Each Christmas, she made mountains of homemade candy and gave it to all her friends and family. After her recipe for Divinity was published in the newspaper, Julia Childs called and complimented her. It was one of her fondest memories.
She is survived by her daughters, Cheryl Kennedy Kratochvil and husband Ralph, Susan Kennedy McCumsey and husband Kenny, her grandchildren, Katie LeBlanc and husband Mike, Kenneth Charles (Mac) McCumsey II, Mia McCumsey Wightkin and husband Michael, Jessica (Jessie) McCumsey and her great grandchildren, Shelby LeBlanc and Sawyer Wightkin. She is also survived by two of her brother’s children, Diane Shipes Horne and husband Gene (Billy) and John Allen Shipes and wife Becky and their families. She was preceded into heaven by her parents, H.S. Shipes and Rosa Smith Shipes, her husband and our Daddy, Stan Kennedy and her brother, John Henry Shipes.
Her funeral services will be held at her long time church, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 8833 Goodwood Blvd., Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 8, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. until funeral service starting at 10:00 a.m. Interment will immediately follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park, 9595 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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