Rose Hancock Boyles

Rose Boyles passed away peacefully after a long illness at Coastal Carolina Hospital surrounded by her daughter, Jane, & granddaughter, Amanda.

Born Olga Rose Hancock, April 23, 1925, in a small log cabin in the mountains of Union County, NC, to Burrell and Alma Broome Hancock. She was married to Carter Boyles on July 13, 1946.

She learned at a very early age what hard work was and the value of family & a relationship with Jesus. She spent several hours brushing her mom’s hair & listening to stories from the Bible & about her family. She worked in the fields with her dad, brothers, & sisters picking cotton. She left school in 9th grade, but that didn’t stop her from learning. She loved doing crossword puzzles, playing cards & reading. She grew up during the Great Depression & learned how to save & not waste.

She became a nurse in Savannah at Telfair Hospital. Shortly after, she met her wonderful husband, Carter, & after marrying him, moved to Ridgeland where she continued nursing at the old Ridgeland Hospital on Green Street. She finished her nursing career when the hospital moved locations & opened an at-home daycare service. She took pride in teaching the children, caring for them & watching them grow. She was loving known as “Aunt Rose” to many of the children she took care of. She was always willing to take care of everyone to the best of ability.

She & Carter were blessed with 3 wonderful children, Lee, Gerald, & Jane. She had 2 granddaughters who she also helped to raise & took wonderful care of. She supported her children & granddaughters in everything they did. She taught hard work, a good work ethic, Christian values, & most of all showed them all the love she had to give.

She was a member of Great Swamp Baptist Church for over 50 years where she served in WMU & was an active member of the Gleaners Sunday School. She loved her Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ, & spoke to Him multiple times a day always making sure to lift every family member & her special friends in prayer. She continued to pray until the day she was called home.

She was a two time cancer survivor. She fought everything that came her way through prayer & perseverance. She had a fighting spirit until the end.

She is predeceased by her loving husband, Carter, son Lee, both parents, & all of her brothers & sisters. She is survived by her son, Gerald Boyles, daughter, Jane Hodges (Ron), granddaughters, Amanda Hodges (who was also her longtime caregiver & best friend) & Kara Dixon, 1 great-granddaughter, Savannah Dixon, 1 great-grandson, Levi Dixon, & a host of nieces & nephews. Special thank you to her caregiver, Abbie Malphrus.

A visitation will be held from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Sunday, January 25, 2026, at Sauls Funeral Home of Ridgeland. A funeral service will be held on Monday, January 26, 2026, at 11:00 am, at Great Swamp Baptist Church. Burial will follow immediately after the funeral service at Great Swamp Baptist Church Cemetery.