Rosemary T McIntosh

Rosemary Thigpen McIntosh, of Madison, Mississippi, fully entered the presence of her Savior on February 23, 2022. She was born on October 3, 1928 in Meridian, Mississippi to Delwin Thigpen, Sr. and Frances Holyfield Thigpen, loving parents who raised her well.

She met the love of her life, Rev. David McIntosh, Sr., in 1944 at a Methodist youth retreat. They married September 4, 1949 and were inseparable - “two halves made whole” as she once wrote in a poem - until his recent death after 72 years of marriage. There has never been a closer marriage or a better example of the marriage covenant revealing Christ and His Church.

She attended Millsaps College until they left for Atlanta, Georgia where he attended seminary at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. While at Emory they served a pastorate at Smithville, Georgia. Upon their return to Mississippi they served United Methodist churches, in succession, at Scooba, Ridgeland, Morton, Alta Woods (Jackson), Central (Meridian), Christ (Jackson), Crawford Street (Vicksburg), and First UMC of Laurel. After David’s retirement from being a senior pastor they returned to Jackson and Christ UMC. She faithfully served the Church with him, side by side, for as long as she was able.

Rosemary was a wonderful and pure person whose life was marked by an authentic agape love for her Lord and her fellow man; a love that drove her to unselfishly serve others by every means possible. She served her own family. She served her church family. She was the caregiver for her mother for a period of many years. She served her community. She simply served anyone who had a need she could address; a remarkable way for anyone to be remembered.

Rosemary has been described by many as the model “preacher’s wife”. David had a remarkable life and ministry, one that impacted an untold number of people, but he would not have been nearly as effective and impactful absent the constant support and devotion of his “Sweet”. It was a joint ministry of love, one that the Lord blessed.

Survivors include son, David Alexander McIntosh, Jr., and his wife Debra Ward McIntosh of Brandon, Mississippi, grandchildren Kate McIntosh Graham and husband Will Graham of Birmingham, Alabama, and Alex McIntosh and wife Chelsea McIntosh of Starkville, Mississippi; Daughter and faithful caregiver Maura McIntosh Fields of Madison, Mississippi, and grandson Zach Fields of Oxford, Mississippi; and son Mark Franklin McIntosh and wife Martha Stevens McIntosh of Peachtree Corners, Georgia, grandson John Mark McIntosh and wife Elizabeth McIntosh of Tupelo, Mississippi, granddaughter Mamie McIntosh Crawford and husband Allen Crawford of LaGrange, Georgia, and granddaughter Lizzie McIntosh of Atlanta, Georgia. She is survived by great grandchildren, Elodie Graham, Rose Graham, William Graham, George McIntosh, Tripp McIntosh, Poppy McIntosh, Frances Crawford, Maggie McIntosh, and Caroline Crawford. She is also survived by her beloved brother Morris Thigpen, and by a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. The family also wants to specially thank her friend and tender caregiver Kisha Wilson. Please know that she dearly loved each of you.

Rosemary will long be remembered as a mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend. She will be sorely missed.

The memorial service will be held at Christ United Methodist Church, Jackson, Mississippi, on February 28, 2022 beginning at 11:00 a.m. Private interment will be held at Parkway Memorial Cemetery in Madison before the service. Memorial gifts may be sent to Christ United Methodist Church for the Missions Fund. Parkway Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements at (601) 853-7696.