Eunice "Madeline" Viola Rose

Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, April 3, 2021 at St. Peter Baptist Church located at 537 Patrick Henry Highway, Amherst VA. 24521. Visitation at 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will take place at the Sparrow Family Cemetery, Amherst, VA. Professional Services provided by White’s Funeral Services, Columbus, OH. Flowers and resolutions can be sent to Davis-Turner Funeral Services at 1016 Rivermont Ave. Lynchburg, VA. 24504. Condolences can be sent to Rhonda and Vernon Stratton at 23 Joshua Lane, Granville, OH. 43023

Eunice Viola Rose, known to all as Madeline, was a warm, loving and beautiful woman who enjoyed being with family and friends. Her kindness was immeasurable and she was filled with sincere compassion for others. There was never a visitor she wouldn’t invite to stay for a meal. She found joy in sharing the fresh harvest or canned vegetables from her garden. In her spare time, she would make jewelry and crafts from beads.

God called our beloved Madeline home on Friday, March 26, 2021. He knew she was tired from her long illness and needed eternal rest. She blessed so many people for the 78 years she lived. The impacts and memories will be everlasting and will be passed on from generation to generation.  Madeline was born on April 11, 1942 to Edward (dec.) and Eunice Morse Murphy (dec.). She grew up in Nelson County, VA on a farm with her brothers Thomas (dec.), Fred (dec.), Jimmy Lee (dec.), David (dec.), and her sisters Mary Ross (dec.), Shirley Logan of Washington, D.C. and Earlene (Husband-Chester) Thompson of Arrington, VA.  At the sweet age of 17, Madeline fell head-over-heels in love with John Henry Sparrow and they were married on December 26, 1959.  They made their home in Amherst County, VA and were married for 36 years until John’s passing. John’s nickname for Madeline was “Doll Face”, for which she did not want to be called. From this union they were blessed with five sons: John Jr., Tosey (Wife-Stella), Danny, Edward (dec.), and Mark Sparrow all of Amherst, VA., and finally one daughter, Rhonda (Husband-Vernon) Stratton of Granville, OH.  After losing John, Madeline once again found love and married Deacon O’Neil Rose. She affectionately called him “Honey Bun” and they were married for 12 years until his passing.

Madeline loved the Lord with all her heart and faithfully served until her failing health.  She was a member of St. Peter Baptist Church where she was a Deaconess, a Senior. Choir and Women’s Auxiliary member and secretary of Sunday School. Saturday evenings she would frequently be found studying her Sunday School lesson in preparation for the next morning and of course, like many students, she’d be stressing if she forgot to do it. She also enjoyed working in the church kitchen to prepare meals. Madeline was employed for over 20 years at Lovingston Garment Manufactory and there she made many life-long friends. 

Yes, Madeline left us precious memories, and her love is still our guide; and although we cannot see her, she will always be at our side. Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems quite the same; but as God calls us one-by-one, the chain will link again.

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