Rosa Lee Anderson's Obituary
Evangelist (Mother) Rosa Lee (Foster) Anderson passed away peacefully on November 29, 2025, in Olympia Fields, Illinois. She was born July 07, 1934, the youngest offspring of Perry and Virginia Foster in Bessemer, AL. Her life was marked by a rich legacy of faith, music, and family, inspiring love and admiration among those who knew her.
Education and Career
Rosa Lee graduated from Dunbar High School in Bessemer, Alabama, and later attended Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, Illinois, where she attained an Associate Degree in Business Administration. She attended Roosevelt University, majoring in Music and was invited to be an organist for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Momma had a gift for playing the piano and at the age of eight she started playing for the New Salem Missionary Baptist Church, in Bessemer, Alabama, where she eventually became a choir director, as well She was also an upstanding member of Holy Temple Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois, Eastern Star Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois, New Jerusalem Pentecostal Church, Chicago, Illinois, New Macedonia Pentecostal Church, Chicago, Illinois, Victory Temple, Christ-way Pentecostal Church, in Decatur, Illinois, and the Church of Jesus Christ Apostolic and under the leadership of Pastor Z.M Craig.
Personality/Legacy
Evangelist Rosa Lee's charisma radiated to everyone who encountered her. She loved God and received the Holy Ghost under the ministry of Elder Leslie Robinson at New Jerusalem Pentecostal Church in 1959. She started Bible Class in her home, and God used her to witness to everyone she met, and many received the gift of the Holy Ghost through her witnessing of God's grace and love. She instilled Christ in her children's lives and ensured they grew up in a home filled with God's love. She loved working with the young people in the church through plays, concerts, and songs. She was also involved in the Head Start national program and became a family advocate for the children. Evangelist Rosa Lee was a devoted mother and believed in family gatherings, family trips, and being together, especially during Thanksgiving. The trips left her children with a legacy that still exists today.
Evangelist Rosa Lee married Clade Anderson in 1956. She is survived by thirteen children: Toni Cook (Mississippi), Benjamin Oden (Illinois), Phyllis (Charles) Carrington (Illinois), Claudia Clark (Illinois), Claude (Gloria) Anderson (Alaska), Eric Anderson (Alaska), Mary Gallagher (Mississippi), Stephen (Lucinda) Anderson (North Carolina), Dr. Kenneth Anderson (Ariwna), Kimberly Papaleo (New York), Angie Craig (Texas), Christopher Anderson (Virginia), Andy (Meagan) Anderson She leaves to cherish a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, in addition to Tamara Joi Powell, Tonisha Moon, Jakerria Wylie, Dyshae and Joshua Ashley, Kailyn Anderson, Kerry Wylie, and a host of loving nieces, and nephews. Preceding her in death parents, Perry and Virginia Foster, son, Stanley Oden, granddaughters, Denice Oden and Renee Gooden, grandsons, Stanley Bryant, Gregory Oden, and siblings, John Foster, Jeanette Bell, Louise Spence, Mary Ward, William Foster, James Foster, and Jesse Foster.
Words of wisdom spoken by Evangelist Rosa Anderson until the Lord called her home
"Only what you do for Christ will last!"
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