Dr. Rosa Bobia

Dr. Rosa Bobia grew up in a God-loving and God-fearing home; the family recited Bible verses at mealtimes on Sundays. Shaped by this God-centered home, Dr. Bobia desired to understand God more deeply and to practice Christianity daily. She cherished learning about God’s promise of healing and the healing science of Christ Jesus. Yearning to experience Biblical sites, she traveled over two thousand miles in Turkey (Asia Minor in the Bible), tracing St. Paul’s Journey through the ancient world, spreading the gospel of the new Christian religion. She visited the sites of the seven churches mentioned in the Bible, Macedonia, and several places in Greece, including Mars Hills, Athens, and the Isle of Patmos.

Her parents, Robert Williamson and Letha Williamson, stressed the importance of education, being one's best self, and striving for excellence. After her bachelor’s degree in French and Spanish from North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina, she spent two years studying in France and traveling throughout Europe. Upon her return, she taught for two years at Garinger High School in Charlotte, NC.

After earning her master’s degree in French at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she taught in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina.

After her doctoral studies in Comparative Literature at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, she taught, conducted research, and served at Kennesaw State University (Marta, Atlanta, Georgia) for 26 years. Her research and extensive travel in West and Central Africa helped her to become the first Director of the Center for African and African Diaspora Studies, the position she held until her retirement.

Dr Bobia received numerous awards in teaching and scholarships, including Distinguished Faculty awards in teaching, scholarship, scholarship and services. She helped to found the National Conference on Blacks in Higher Education based at Kennesaw. The ROH diversity ward at KSU was created for her, along with two other colleagues. A faculty member receives the ROH award each year for achievements in diversity.

In 2013, she established the Dr. Rosa Bobia Endowed Scholarship at Kennesaw State University for students majoring in French and African and African Diaspora Studies.

Dr. Bobia lived a good life surrounded by loving family and friends. Know above all else, she was devoted to learning how to be and prosper from being a child of God.

Dr. Rosa Bobia was preceded in death by her Husband, Daniel Bobia; her parents, Robert Carl Williamson and Letha Williamson; her aunt, Blanche Williamson; her sister, Marion Terry; her niece, Ozella Terry; her nephew, Andrew Means; and her great-nephew, LJ Johnson.

Dr. Bobia leaves to cherish her memory: her daughter Marie C. Francois, two sisters, Cynthia Williamson and Carolyn Tarrant, one brother, Robert C. Williamson II, and a host of other nieces, cousins, friends, and her KSU family.

The family will greet friends on Saturday, the 16th of May, 2025 from 12:00 Noon until 12:45 PM in the Chapel of McEwen Funerals & Cremations at Forest Lawn West. A service to celebrate her life will be held at 1:00 PM and entombment will follow in the Mausoleum at Forest Lawn West Cemetery.