Ms. Rosa Mae Adams Howard, 89, of 295 Convent Avenue, Manhattan, NY, and formerly of Elloree, passed away in New York on July 30, 2019. Funeral services for Ms. Howard will be held at 11 AM Saturday, August 10, 2019, at New Faith Community Church, 2224 State Park Rd., Santee, with Rev. Pamela Jacobs, Pastor officiating.  The casket will be placed in the church at 10 AM.  Burial will follow in the Union AME Church Cemetery.

Viewing is scheduled from 4 to 7 PM, Friday, August 9, 2019, at Williams Funeral Home of Elloree.  Friends may also call at the residence of Minnie Sumpter, 5544 Five Chop Rd., Elloree on Friday August 9, 2019, from 3 to 8 PM.

Sister Rosa Mae Adams Howard was the first born to the late Mr. Willie "Bill" Adams and Minnie Dukes Adam s.  Thirteen children followed Rosa.

On Tuesday, July 30, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Luke Hospital, New York NY life came to an end for Sister Rosa Mae Adams Howard.  She proudly said goodbye to this temporal world and hello to her eternal heavenly home.

Sister Rosa Mae was educated at Elloree Training School and graduated in 1949.  In 1942, Rosa Mae accepted Jesus Christ and joined the Union AME Church where she was devoted supporter.  She often told the story of how her uncle Burley (Bunk) Adams used to give her twenty-five cents every Sunday to sing a song, and the songbird of the Adams family began to use her gift from God.

Upon graduating from high school Sister Rosa Mae moved to New York City and continued to help her parents to rear her younger siblings.  She also helped them as they moved to New York City and together they built a new home for their parents. Sister Rosa Mae became the Matriarch of her family located in New York City.  She started her employment with the Central Apron and Linen Company in 1949 where she assisted other family members and friends to obtain employment until her retirement.  On December 14, 1958, she married the love of her life, the late Richard Howard.

The bright lights of New York City did not keep Sister Rosa Mae from the Lord's house.  She joined the Greater Emmanuel Baptist Church on June 30, 1949 under the leadership of the late Reverend T.T. Gooden Sr.  She was baptized on July 31, 1983 under the leadership of the late Reverend Dr Thaddeus T. Gooden Jr.  She was the songbird of the Greater Emmanuel Baptist Church and sang on the Jubilee Choir where she also served as the president, traveled with the Busy Bee Club, served as the Church Clerk, on the Deaconess Board, and many other offices of the church.  Sis Rosa Mae was known to be the all-time greatest fundraiser at the Greater Emmanuel Baptist Church.  Sister Rosa Mae was named as one of the Mothers of her church and continued to serve the Lord under the leadership of Reverend Marjorie Gooden.  Mother Rosa Mae Howard will truly be missed.

Sister Rosa Mae leaves behind to cherish her love and precious memories, Seven Sisters, Hazel Adams and Bessie Adams of New York NY; Elizabeth (Samuel) Wilson of Timmonsville SC; Willie Lee Pelzer, Lottie Rodney, Patricia Snider and Minnie Sumpter of Elloree SC.  Two brothers, David (Donna) Adams of Bronx NY; Hubert (Ola) Adams of Elloree SC.  Two Sisters-in-law, Inez Adams of Baltimore MD and Thelma Evans of Sumter SC.  One uncle, Harry Dukes of Charleston SC; two Stepdaughters Lillian and Lynette General of New Jersey; one daughter-in-love, Dorothy Aikens of Orangeburg SC; one good buddy, Birdie Glenn of New York NY; one best friend, Willhamena Darby of Austin TX; four Godchildren, Sharon Adams, Thelma Irons of New York NY, Dr. Kenneth Newkirk of New Jersey, Tony Montgomery of Brooklyn NY, a special cousin Warren Dukes, and a host of loving grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends who all came to know her as "Auntie Rose".