Rosa M. Hightower

Hightower Rosa M. (Thompson) Hightower was born in Modoc, South Carolina on July 9, 1919. She departed this life on October 9, 2015 in Columbus, Ohio at the age of 96. Preceding her in death were her parents Charles Callahan Sr. and Nancy (Merriweather) Callahan, her step-mother Jennette (Williams) Callahan, her siblings Dewitt, Wilson, Charles Jr., and Henrietta Miller and her husbands Jerrel Thompson and Louis Hightower. She is survived by a loving sister-in-law, Lucille (Beasley) Callahan; four daughters, Jerry and Patricia Thompson, Mona Lisa Ludy, Kimberly Skaggs; and six grandchildren, Lamont Harris, Ta'Shobe Williams, Marilyn Ludy, Marla Golomeke, Shama (Anthony) Germany, and Angel Wilson; also a best friend, Isabelle Hughes. She has 11 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Mrs. Hightower was raised in Fairmont, West Virginia and graduated from Dunbar High School. She was the first in her family to attend college. She received a Bachelors of Science degree in Home Economics from West Virginia State College and a Masters of Education degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was an avid church worker, always helping others. For more than sixty years, she was a Sunday School teacher, she taught children, youth and adults. For more than twenty of those years she was teacher of Class #3 and 5 of Shiloh's Adult Sunday Church School. State wide, she was known for her work in child day care services; locally for Neighborhood House and for Central Community House, and she was co-founder of Action for Children an organization that supports and promotes quality childcare services. At the state level, she served for sixteen years as Director of Title XX Child Day Care Services. Other organizations Mrs. Hightower served were the Ohio Hunger Task Force, the Tray Lee Center Trustee Council Board, the Columbus Neighborhood Youth Corps and the West Side, East Side Child Care Association. She was a patient caring person, who lovingly shared her life with others. She shared her home with more than twenty college students over a period of thirty years. Her prayer was that her "living would not be in vain." It wasn't in vain. Her life touched and brought joy to many. Her favorite songs, "It is well with my soul" and "Amazing Grace." Her favorite scriptures are Psalms 23, Psalms 100, Matthew 5:3-9 and II Timothy 2:14-15. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Rosa Hightower's name may be sent to Action For Children, 78 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215, 614-224-0222. The website is www.actionforchildren.org Funeral Service will be held on Friday, October 16, 2015 at 11 a.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church, 720 Mt. Vernon Ave., where family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the start of service. Rev. Dr. Otha Gilyard, officiating. Interment at Green Lawn Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to DIEHL-WHITTAKER FUNREAL SERVICES. Please visit www.diehl-whittaker.com/obits to sign Rosa's online guest book.