Rosa Delores Valley

She was born in the great city of Colfax, Louisiana on October 25, 1935 to the late Epsie (Vaughn) Williams and Dewey Williams. Her parents were sharecroppers and worked very hard to raise eleven children. Rosa was the seventh child out of thirteen children. Rosa graduated from Mary Graham High School in Colfax, Louisiana. She was a star basketball player. She was most proud of being named the school queen (Ms. Mary Graham). Her mother made her most beautiful dress by hand and she never let the family forget she was Ms. Graham. Rosa always had a mind of her own.

In 1955, she married the love of her life, the late handsome Leroy Valley. Soon after, they wanted more for their family of five. They decided to moved to Houston, Texas, where they begin their life far from the family. After moving, Rosa and Leroy increased their family by two - a daughter was born and a daughter was adopted. This now made a family of seven. Rosa went to worked to help provide for her family. She retired from Foley’s when she became eligible but she wasn’t finished she went on to retire from North Forest School District. She was baptized at Raven Camp Baptist Church as a child, upon moving to Houston she and her family joined Pure Light Missionary Baptist Church. When God called her home, she was a member of True Agape Ministries under the leadership of her son-in-law: Rev. W. Britten. Oh, how she loved Rev. Britten for her he could do no wrong.

After retirement she stay very active, she was a member of several senior citizen programs and worked in the church. She was always the life of any party. She loved to dressed. She was an avid reader she spent many hours reading anything that had words in it she would read. There was not a subject she wasn’t able to speak on. She was old school and very proud of who she was and where she came from.

Rosa’s legacy is safe, she leaves her children: daughter, Linda (Wavily) Britten, sons, Jerome L. Valley and Charles (Bridgette) Valley; daughter, Pamela S. Williams and youngest daughter, Neiya U. Valley (all residents of Houston, Texas); grandchildren, Jennifer (Devonta) Thomas, Brian L. Kennedy II, Chase N. Kennedy, Timothy Britten and Ivery Britten; great-grandchildren, Devonta Thomas and Jalan Thomas.

Though she loved going to church, on trips, and parties. Rosa’s favorite role was being a grandma. She treasured her time with her grandkids and loved being their Granny, never failing to give them money or anything they would ask for. She thought her main job was to spoil them.

Rosa will always be remembered for tenacious spirit and the way that she always spoke her mind. We’ll always imagine hearing these words, “I was grown when you got here.” one more time. We, her children, will miss her every day. Her memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved her.

Rosa was preceded in death by her husband, Leroy Valley; parents, Epsie and Dewey Williams; sisters, Elnora, Olivia, Georgia and Gloria; and brothers, Clarence, Dewey, Willie D. and Herschel. She is survived by two sisters, Eddie Mae Milner and Thelma Powell. Rosa leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other who loved her in God’s holy hands.