Niles Daily Star, Published 8:41 am Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Rosie Lyons, 79, Niles, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2019. Funeral will be at noon with visitation at 11 a.m. on Feb. 23, at Mt. Calvary, in Niles. Arrangements entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles. BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.
Obituary from Funeral Home website:
Rosie Lee Lyons was born in Blytheville, Arkansas to the late Mr. Willie Jones and Mrs. Willie Jones on October 19, 1939. She was the youngest of 15 children of which 13 preceded her in death. Rosie went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, February 14, 2019.
She was educated in the public school system in Missouri, and in 1957 she relocated to New York City and later on moved to Chicago, Illinois. In 1958 she conducted the C.E.T.A (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) program to assist the youth in employment training on the Southside of Chicago. Rosie later met Willie James Lyons and in 1963 the two were married. She also received a certificate of appreciation from the Cook County Prison for helping the incarcerated gain education, job skills, and motivation to become productive members in the Chicagoland community.
Rosie received Jesus as her personal savior and joined St. James C.O.G.I.C. She served in several capacities and later began to teach the word of God as a missionary. Rosie relocated to Niles, Michigan where she began to work with the youth and established a C.E.T.A. program in the Hatcherville community of Niles. She also resumed and completed her high school education. While there she started a program to assist parents of incarcerated children, organized a youth community day (Fun Day), and after petitioning state and local officials for the Hatcherville community her efforts were awarded with park improvements, street repairs, installed street signage for school loading, organization of a block club, and home rehabilitation grants for residents. Rosie received countless awards, honors, and medals for mentoring the community’s youth from local law enforcement, schools, and youth groups. She acted as a liaison between troubled youth and law enforcement and between inmates and the Department of Corrections. She attended criminal and civil court hearings with plaintiffs or defendants while explaining court procedures to them and the rights to both parties. Rosie also worked with both drug and alcohol victims. In 1978 Rosie retreated back to Chicago’s westside and became a member of Old Landmark Church of God Holiness in Christ where she served as a faithful member until she returned to Niles, where she resided until her departure.
Rosie loved to walk and was known for her warm smile and laughter. She was full of wisdom and enjoyed teaching. She was very gifted when it came to knowledge of the law and assisted in several inmates being released from incarceration, transferred to better facilities, or transferred home. Rosie was a writer of poetry and songs and was a featured commentator in the Niles Daily Star, The Herald-Palladium, and South Bend Tribune. In 1992 she was held as a “Niles Hero” in an article written by a teacher after speaking to a class of troubled youth. Rosie often assisted in political elections. She received acknowledgment letters from the White House from former president Barack Obama, and Senator Edward M. Kennedy. She also was a big fan of the WWE and watched it faithfully cheering on her favorite wrestler, Shawn Michaels.
Rosie leaves to cherish her children Willie (Michelle) Jones, Suzette Marie Lyons, Sherridon (Demetrius Verse) Lyons-Verse, Etta James Lyons, and Octavia Denise Lyons; grandchildren, Angel Lyons, Juliana Jones, Willie T. “Mooney” Jones, Jimmy Williams, Wisdom Lyons, Marquez “Squeaky” Lyons, Jewel Williams Jr., Justin Williams, Charmaine Lyons, and Sherridon Yevette Lyons; 33 great-grandchildren; siblings, Troy Moore and Lovie Nichols, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
She was preceded in death by daughter, Linda Devette Lyons; and grandsons, James Davall Lyons, Malander Darrell Jenkins Jr., and Richard Louis Lyons.
https://brownfuneralhomeniles.com/tribute/details/2381/Rosie-Lyons/obituary.html