Rosanna E. Moss

Rosanna Elizabeth Wilson Moss was born to the union of James Adelbert Wilson, Sr. and Susan (Johnson) Wilson on April 26, 1924 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. She was affectionately known as Cissy to her younger brother James Adelbert Wilson, Jr. (Dubie) and the rest of her family. Their parents died when they were very young, leaving them to be raised by their maternal grandparents, James and Rosa (Hodge) Johnson. Rosanna’s childhood centered around the family church – West Street AME Zion Church in Carlisle. After attending Carlisle public schools, she went on to graduate from cosmetology school. Rosanna met and fell in love with a local Carlisle boy, Theodore Ulysses (Billy) Moss. They later married, and she moved with him to Detroit, Michigan in the 1940’s where he, like so many, found employment in the auto industry. There they raised five children – three boys and two girls. Rosanna was primarily a stay-at-home mom but worked as a waitress when Theodore was drafted into the Navy during WWII. After the children were older, she worked as a school crossing guard establishing wonderful and long-lasting relationships with the neighborhood children. She would also intermittently put her cosmetology training to use on family, friends and neighbors, sometimes earning extra income for the family but usually providing her services for free. Her spirit of generosity was also evident in her volunteerism. She served as the Birwood Street block club captain and was a member of the PTA during her children’s school years. Later in life she would serve Meals on Wheels, retiring at the age of 87 – older than anyone she served on her route. Following in the footsteps of her grandmother, Rosanna raised her children in the church and was very active there. She served as a youth Sunday School teacher at Henderson Memorial United Methodist Church and was a member of the United Methodist Women. She later joined St. Timothy United Methodist Church and was a member there until her death. After her move to Southfield, she often attended Hope United Methodist Church where some of her children were members. She also attended weekly bible study at her senior apartment complex. Rosanna played a big part in the upbringing of many of her grandchildren - providing loving care for them while their parents worked. She loved baseball and taught her grandchildren how to throw a baseball. Since she did not drive she would take them on bus rides downtown to go shopping. Rosanna loved to shop and would often wear out her daughters and daughters-in-law during her shopping sprees. Family ties were very important and grew strong in the traditions she established – birthday parties, big holiday dinners and celebrating any and every accomplishment in the family. Educational accomplishments were especially valued in the Moss household. Her love of travel took her many places including visiting her brother and his family in Japan; her niece in Hawaii; frequent visits to Florida with her children and to other tropical locations such as Punta Cana, Cancun and Jamaica. Most recently, she travelled to Barbados in 2012 to find her father’s family, and then returned for family reunions there in 2014 and 2016. She loved to read murder mysteries and complete crossword puzzles while eating chocolate. In addition, she would listen and hum to the 1940’s music of her heyday. Rosanna was preceded in death by her husband Theodore Ulysses Moss, Sr., her four sons: Theodore Ulysses Moss, Jr., Steven Adelbert Moss, Sr., baby Timothy, and Gary Erwin Moss; as well as her son-in-law Robert Leon Donald. She leaves to cherish her memory daughters Sueanna Moss Donald and Sara Moss Webb (Philip);

Rosanna E. Moss

April 26, 1924 - April 6, 2019