Rosalie Poe

Rosalie Richardson Poe
Raleigh
Rosalie Richardson Poe, 94, of Raleigh died peacefully on September 22, 2011 after a short illness.
She was born in New Bern, NC on April 29, 1917, the daughter of Edwin Forrest Richardson and Glennie Willis Richardson.
As a young girl she enjoyed spending summers in Morehead City with her cousins on Shakleford St. She and Mary Anderson especially liked to speak the "High Tider" brogue of the locals. She attended New Bern schools and then Converse College in Spartanburg, SC. She was the Assistant Leader for Eastern North Carolina for the 1935 Debutante Ball.
After college Rosalie moved to Raleigh to work for Durham Life and met her future husband William D.(Boss) Poe who was an editor for The Progressive Farmer magazine. They married in 1941 and lived at the Poe family home "Longview" while William served with the US Army during World War II. They later built a home nearby on the farm and raised their young family. They participated in Raleigh's civic and social events, especially enjoying the Capital Cotillion Club parties with their friends. When William died suddenly in 1958 she moved her family into town and worked for Drs. Root, Bugg and Sanders pediatricians and served as Vice President of Longview Gardens, Inc. In 1968 Rosalie married Royce O. Johnson of Pine Bluff, Arkansas and moved there to live where she made many friends. They traveled abroad several times and enjoyed taking their houseboat, "The R & R" on trips along the Arkansas River. Each spring was spent going to the horse races in Hot Springs.
After Royce's death in 1988 she returned to Raleigh to be closer to her children and grandchildren. She was fortunate to re-join her old book and bridge clubs, catching up on what had been going on in Raleigh while she was away. She also continued her membership in the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America and the Carolina Country Club.
Rosalie is survived by her two children, Jean Poe Martin and William D. Poe, Jr., wife, Judy, of Raleigh; Royce's daughter, Leslie Johnson Alexander, husband, Robert of Aiken, SC; daughter-in-law, Karen Killick Johnson of Pine Bluff, AR; niece, Peggy Richardson Sarvis of Pinehurst, NC. She was a devoted and loving grandmother who was affectionally called "Dear" by her grandchildren. They are Mary-Hunter Martin; Allison Poe Larson, and husband, David, William D. Poe, III, wife, Chaney, & John-Thomas Hobby Poe, all of Raleigh. Susan Martin Covington, and husband, Tom of Wilmington, NC. Ann-Scott Martin Mancuso of Morehead City, NC; Jeanie Poe Wrenn, husband, John of Mt. Pleasant, SC; Martin Johnson of Pine Bluff, AR: Kathryn Johnson Smith, husband Gary of Atlanta, GA;. Robert Alexander of Folly Beach, SC. She is also survived by 15 great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her brother Edwin Forrest Richardson, Jr.; her niece and namesake Rosalie Richardson DeBrito and her step-son Royce Overton Johnson, Jr.
The family wishes to thank Lekita Essa and her staff, especially Rachel, Mary, Senekay and Susan for their loving care and attention. Special thanks also to Adrianne Dunn whose help and 30 year relationship meant so much.
There will be a private burial Saturday morning September 24th at Historic Oakwood Cemetery followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 120 E. Edenton St. in Raleigh. The family will receive friends in the church parlor immediately after the service.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Alice Aycock Poe Center for Health Education, 224 Sunnybrook Rd., Raleigh, NC 27610 or to Hospice of Wake County, Inc., 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.
Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Saint Mary's St. Raleigh.