11/17/2025
Rose W Hammonds
Rose W. Hammonds, 79, passed away on October 8th, 2025. Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life service will be planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the organizations listed below.
Early Life: 'Miss Rose' began her earthly journey in the summer of 1946, in rural North Carolina. Rosa Lee ("Rose") was the oldest of 8 children born to the quiet-natured Deacon Cicero Whitfield and the fiery Annie Lee Bradley Whitfield. Young Rosa Lee dutifully assisted her Mom with local domestic jobs, helped around the house and completed the piano lessons her Mom required. On the farm with her Grandaddy Levi (whom she adored and still quoted), she learned to read and drive a tractor. After the honors of being a debutante and graduating in the top 10% of her W.A. Patillo High School class of 60 students, young Rose left for the big city to attend Howard University. She stayed with family, rented an apartment with cousin 'Dot' and another young lady, and enjoyed the adventure of working at the American Educational Research Association. Then, college was put on hold for marriage to the very charming, smart and persistent Samuel Hammonds. They moved back closer to Rose's parents, started a family and started full-time careers.
Education/Profession: Miss Rose later attended Thomas Nelson Community College and Christopher Newport University, specializing in Psychology/counseling and graduating summa cm laude. She excelled academically and intellectually throughout her entire 79 plus years. She worked for the Newport News school system, Menchville High School, the local hospital, (Riverside), the Newport News Housing Authority, her university theater department (volunteer), the local crisis hotline (volunteer) and a variety of part-time community jobs, including Busch Gardens theme park.
Life: Rosa ("Rose") Lee Whitfield Hammonds believed she was "positioned on purpose" throughout a variety of life experiences and paths she crossed. Raised in a Christian home, Miss Rose's faith shaped the foundation of her life. She also valued education, her independence, respect, good manners, gratitude, nature, people of different backgrounds, hard work, a good work ethic, enjoying life and life-long learning. She appreciated the wisdom of others, respected her Native American heritage and cherished good neighbors. She was known for: her generosity in giving to others, helping less fortunate neighbors, an amazing ability to remember and recall details, being a good listener, politeness, her sense of humor, her quick wit, being kind, and her pure fun with dance moves at any moment that the music moved her.
Miss Rose loved a variety of food and fellowship, reading, family-time, alone-time, relaxing outdoors and praying. She enjoyed fresh flowers, various music genres, fashion, decorating, community events, concerts, old Westerns, old Carol Burnett sitcoms and volunteering in the community. She loved family pets, from their childhood family dog to her daughter's pet, whom Miss Rose nicknamed 'my grand-dog.' In her younger years, she enjoyed cooking for others and made many great dishes & meals. With her strong-willed, determined, fiercely independent, confident, sassy and intelligent nature, many saw Miss Rose as a 'fighter' (in all positive ways). As she aged, Mama Rose grew into a strict practice of the motto: "no worry-no hurry." She was quick to point out that her gray hairs were from aging ("gracefully"), not from worrying. She grew to enjoy the midwest and eventually called the "Little Apple" her home.
Transition: On the morning of October 8th, 2025, Miss Rose departed this life, joining her beloved parents, seven younger siblings, 2 dear husbands and a host of other cherished loved ones, on the next leg of her journey. Leaving a huge and memorable impact on those whose paths intersected with hers, Mama Rose will be deeply and forever missed by many. She is survived by her two devoted daughters, Jean and Michelle, three beloved grandchildren, devoted childhood cousins, cherished extended family, more relatives, neighbors and friends.
When Tomorrow Starts Without Me:
"When tomorrow starts without me and I'm not here to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes,
Filled with tears for me.
I know how much you love me, as much as I loved you,
And each time you think of me,
Know that I miss you too.
And when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand,
That God was there, called my name and took me by the hand.
So, when tomorrow starts without me, don't think we're far apart,
For every time you think of me, I'm right there in your heart."
Special Acknowledgements: Miss Rose's Stoneybrook family, her wonderful PCM "Dr. M" and team, Accord Hospice, Johnson & Mass-Hinitt Funeral Home, Habitat-Restore of MHK, Elder Ben & family, Reverend Jenny, FUMC Manhattan, her favorite local businesses, our work families and all individual hands and hearts who have/will reach out in support. From the bottom of our hearts, all of the kindness, insight, prayers, love, expertise and labor given is so deeply and infinitely appreciated. Celebration of Life gathering planned, details TBD.
Thank you for considering memorial contributions in lieu of flowers for: ASPCA Tributes, 520 8th Ave, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10018or The Crisis Center, Inc., P.O. Box 1526, Manhattan, KS 66505 or location 416 S 4th St., Manhattan, Kansas 66502.More information can be found at: thecrisiscenterinc.org or call (785) 539-7935 and aspca.org or call (800) 628-0028.
View Rose W Hammonds's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.
