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Rosa Lee Taylor Oden, known as “Rose”, Ma, mama, grandma, Aunt Rosie Lee, was born on November 1, 1939 to the late Floyd Taylor and the late Maggie Johnson Taylor Garolds in Beaufort County, NC. She departed this life on Saturday, April 11, 2020. Rosa attended SW Snowden High School, Aurora, NC. In 1957 Rose married the love of her life, Thomas Earl Oden, Sr. on June 13, 1957. In her later years, she joined St. Anna Missionary Baptist Church, Blounts Creek, NC where she served diligently on the Kitchen Committee. Rosa worked at Sampson Manufacturing Company “The Shirt Factory” in Washington, NC for over 15 years until her retirement to care for her first grandchild ‘Jonathan”. She worked as Administrative Assistant for Oden & Son Trucking Company. During that time, when she had to run business errands to pick up parts, she would gather all of her senior citizens and away they went to different places to get parts and to have lunch. Rosa hobbies included sewing, quilting, cooking homemade biscuits, hushpuppies, collards, & hotdog chili. Rosa was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd Taylor and Maggie Garolds; her siblings, Shirley Taylor, Mildred Garolds Smith, and Ernestine Garolds Jones. Rosa leaves to cherish her loving memories, husband, Thomas Earl Oden, Sr of the home; two daughters, Derrell Oden Sturdivant (Walter) of Durham, NC, Vantonnie Earl Oden-Smith (Kim) of Greenville, NC; two sons, Thomas Earl Oden, Jr. (Vanessa) of Edward, NC, Robert Lee Oden (Angela) of Farmville, NC; four sisters, Emily Taylor Carmen, of Boston, MA, Evion Garner, of Blounts Creek, NC, Doris Humphrey, of Raleigh, NC, Annie Lois Garolds, of Greensboro, NC; three brothers, George Garolds (Dollie) of Chicago, IL, James Garolds (Rebecca) of Ernul, NC, Robert Garolds (Wanza), of New Bern, NC; ten grandchildren, Jonathan Sturdivant, Christopher Smith (Shanice), Mallory Sturdivant, Marcus Oden (Anchell), Michael Oden, Taylor Oden, Jalyn Oden, Dexter Oden, Thomas Von-Austin Oden, Jordan Robert Oden; three great-grandchildren, Mya Oden, Kennedy Smith, McKenzie Oden; brothers-in-law, Jack Oden, of Grimesland, NC and Donald Cutler, of Edward, NC; sister-in-law, Dee Dee Cutler (Charlie) of Edward, NC; aunt, Olivia Stanback, of Boston MA; special cousins, Arlisha Johnson and Roylene Hunte, both of Boston, MA; children of her heart, Hazel James Moore (Eddie), Cassie Moore, Amanda Midgette (Hasanee), David & Serisa Moore, Ed & Denise Davis; her across the road children, Tim, Daphine, Imogene, & Karen; God children, Freda Moore, Frannie Moore-Shear, Terrani Moore; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members and friends & especially those that lived on “Tuten Road” in Blounts Creek as her next door neighbor or across the road. She loved each of you dearly

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Mrs. Rosa Lee Oden

November 1, 1939 - April 11, 2020