Arellia Hosey

HOSEY, Arellia 78, passed away on Sunday, July 19, 2009. Born May 7, 1931, in Moss, MS, she moved from West Middlesex, PA to St. Petersburg, with her husband of 61 years, Amos Hosey to be near her son and daughter-in-law. Arellia was best known for her southern cooking and angelic personality. Family gatherings were not complete without her contributions of cakes, pies and gourmet soul cuisine. She worked as a cook at Sharon General Hospital in western PA for 21 years. She rose to the rank of head baker and was revered by doctors and nurses for whom she would lavish baked goods with an extra special touch. Arellia also loved to crochet quilts for her kids and grandchildren. Arellia was a member of Rock of Jesus Missionary Baptist Church of St. Petersburg. She was a former member of Valley Baptist Church of Farrell, PA and Ruth AME Zion Church of Sharon, PA, where she served as deaconess, choir member and many other auxiliaries. A shrewd money manager, Arellia helped her husband rise from their meager roots in Mississippi to build the house of their dreams on a 5-acre Western Pennsylvania rural landscape. There she hosted many family gatherings including she and her husband's 50th wedding anniversary in 1998. It was her first and only formal wedding ceremony. Arellia gave religiously to the international relief organization, Feed The Children. Recently, Arellia rejoiced with the reunion of all six of her beloved children for the first time in 25 years. She is survived by her husband, Amos; sons, Amos Hosey Jr., Cleveland, OH, Roy Hosey, Phoenix, AZ, Boyzell Hosey (Andrida), St.Petersburg; daughters, Diane M. Hosey Williams, Houston, TX, Kathy Hosey, Los Angeles, CA, Peggy Hosey (Don), Atlanta, GA; siblings, Nehemiah Jones (Wilma), Heidelberg, MS, Hattie Lee Gavin, Washington, D.C.; 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by grandson, Jason Williams. Besides her legendary feats with food, her legacy will be that she loved the Lord and she loved her family. Family and friends from around the country will gather for her home-going on Saturday, July 25, 2009, at Rock of Jesus Missionary Baptist Church, 3940, 18th Ave. S. Rev Frank Peterman will offer the eulogy. A public viewing will be held on Friday, July 24, from 5-8 pm at Zion Hill Mortuary, 1700 49th St South.