Rose Marie Long

Obituary of Rose Marie Long

While hospitalized at Banner Thunderbird Samaritan Hospital, Rose Marie Long made her peaceful transition home to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 03, 2017.  Rose Marie, being the third eldest of seven children, lost her mother Bessie Lucille at a very young and tender age.  She along with elder siblings and father- the late Honorable Bishop F.M. Thomas - were left to raise the younger siblings.

Baptized at an early age, Rose Marie received her salvation under the power of the Holy Ghost.  Thank God for using holy/sanctified women in the church...Rose was able to become the woman of God that she was molded to be.  Her grandmother, Martha Mackey and other  church mothers' taught her the values of being both a disciple and a mighty strong woman of God.  As a devout member of the Greater Bethlehem Temple Church from Dearborn to Paulson Avenues, Rose instituted many auxiliaries and was very faithful to her calling.

Post her completion of the Montefiore Hospital nursing program, Rose Marie married WV educator, Calvin Blair. The couple moved to Chicago and eventually back to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  It was then that the Lord blessed this union with two beautiful daughters, Turley and Tynia.  She later remarried Charles A. Long (Marianna, Fla); the couple then relocated to Monroeville, Pennsylvania and raised their family.

Rose was a very compassionate and loving woman. God blessed her to be a generous person. Rose was a great mentor t many people both in and out of church.  Opening both her heart and home to many people, she encouraged and inspired them to desire the most out of life.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband Charles A. Long, loving parents, the late great Bishop F.M. and Bessie L. Thomas, loving brothers' Pastor Freeman Thomas and Rev. Jerome E. Thomas, loving sisters: Lady Betty Lee Sumpter and Lady Martha Vera Naylor.  She will be sorely missed.  She leaves to mourn, her loving daughters, Turley B. Holland (Hubert, NC) and Rev. Dr. Carla M. Sandling (Glendale, AZ); one sister, Shirlee F. Jamison (Waldorf, MD); one brother, Rev. Dr. Lowell J. Thomas and his wife Anne of Penn Hills, PA; one half-sister, Jo Anne L. Thomas (Pittsburgh, PA); four grandchildren, two great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces, nephews, and loving friends.

Services and interment will be private.  Arrangements are under the care of the House of Law, Inc. Funeral Home, Pittsburgh, PA  15235.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Capitol One Bank rt# 031176110 act#36023632605