Rose Cooke Seay

SEAY, Rose Cooke, 98, of Richmond, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at Glenburnie Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. She was one of nine children raised on a farm in James City County. Her father was a farmer and her mother was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her parents, George Harris Cooke and Frances Williams Cooke; her husband's parents, Grace Truman Seay and her husband Peter Wade Seay; and her husband, Everett Eugene Seay. She is survived by one sister, Lucille May Humphreys (Stan) of Georgia and a host of nieces and nephews. Rose considered herself a tomboy growing up because "When the boys got after the girls, they always called me to come help them." This "helping others" trait is what led her to pursue a career in nursing. She graduated from Johnston Willis School of Nursing in Richmond in 1945, and worked as the store nurse at Thalhimer's Department Store in downtown Richmond. She finished her career as a Private Duty Nurse. Rose taught herself to paint by watching Bob Ross on PBS. Her artwork included Christian themes and flowers, and her art was accepted for display into the Arts in the Park arts and crafts show in Richmond in 1997. Rose had a very strong Christian faith that sustained her. She was a member of Goodwill Baptist Church for 20 years. She loved to encourage family, and others by reciting uplifting scripture. Two of her most often recited scriptures were Isaiah 40:28-31 and the 23rd Psalm. She loved the songs "Amazing Grace" and "Anywhere with Jesus."

A celebration of Rose's life will be held at 11 a.m., on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at Goodwill Baptist Church, 8701, Hungary Spring Road, Henrico, Virginia, 23228. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the ceremony. A reception for family and friends will follow at the church. Burial will be held at 2:30 p.m., that same day, at Riverview Cemetery, 1401 S. Randolph Street, Richmond, VA, 23220. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Memorial Fund in Rose Cooke Seay's name at Goodwill Baptist Church.