Rosa Ella Price

ROSA ELLA HARRIS PRICE, age eighty-eight, was called home to live with Jesus on Wednesday, December 1, 2021. She was born in Alliance, Ohio, on Sunday, December 18, 1932, to Elder Emanuel Harris and Rosa Gainous Harris. Rosa was the sixth of eleven children. As a child, little Rosa and her father read the morning paper together. This is a precious memory that she always cherished and never forgot. Rosa grew up in Steubenville, Ohio where the family moved in 1939. She took college prep courses in high school and graduated from Wintersville High in 1951, earning the designation of class Salutatorian. After high school, Rosa attended The Ohio State University until she married Mr. Edward A. Price in 1952. Ed brought a daughter into the marriage, Deborah Ann. Five more girls were born to their union, Deborah Darlene, Rebecca Lynn, Cynthia Kay, Jennifer Gail, and Carole Jeanne. Rosa’s first job was with Nationwide Insurance Company. She was one of, if not the first Black employee hired to do more than cook, clean, or run an elevator. The man that hired her, told her she needed to dress better and achieve more than her counterparts at Nationwide. This, she did! Her career there spanned over twenty-five years. Rosa became a Medicare Supervisor and eventually an agent. When she retired from Nationwide, she remained in the insurance industry and went to work for Central Benefits. After leaving corporate America, Rosa worked as Church Administrator at Christ Memorial Missionary Baptist Church, until age eighty. Rosa served at Christ Memorial for over sixty years, until illness prevented her from doing so. Dating back to the 1950’s, her daughters can recall helping her hand fold church bulletins for Sunday services. Rosa was committed to doing the work of the Lord. Having learned to serve and worship under her parent’s leadership in Steubenville, she came to Christ Memorial, following their example and her heart. During her sixty plus years at Christ Memorial, Rosa’s service included Church Clerk, Willing Worker, Sanctuary Choir, Celestial Choir, Scholarship Committee, Thespian Guild, Deborah Missionary Society, Grace Peoples Circle, Trustee, Deaconess, and Church Mother. She served on the 50th Church Anniversary Committee, curating church history and hosting the banquet as Mistress of Ceremony. She was also on the 56th Anniversary Committee. In 1956, Rosa took a “Training for Service” class under Pastor L. H. Johnson. She never stopped serving. Rosa faithfully attended Sunday School, Sunday morning services, prayer meeting, and Baptist Training Union (B.T.U.). Rosa was preceded in Glory by her parents, Emanuel Harris and Rosa Gainous Harris; sisters, Elvira Shropshire, Mary Lue Brown, Martha Ellis, and Louise Carter; brothers, Henry Tyrone Harris, Moses Harris, and James Harris; and daughter, Deborah Ann Lyons. Rosa is survived by her loving daughters, Deborah (Reginald) Cole, Rebecca (Thomas) Price-Carroll, Cynthia (Elton Jones) Price, Jennifer Price, and Carole Bell, all of Columbus, Ohio; sister, Breatrice Bridges; brothers, Emanuel Harris Jr. and John Theodore “Teddy” Harris; a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family, church family, and friends.