Obituaries » PATRICIA ANN ROSE

PATRICIA ANN ROSE

January 15, 1954 - April 3, 2022

Burial Date: April 16, 2022

Visitation will be held Friday, April 15, 2022 at Jackson - Highley Funeral Home, West Helena Arkansas from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held Saturday, April 16, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at C.V. White High School Gymnasium, Lakeview Arkansas. Interment will follow immediately at Morning Star Cemetery, Elaine Arkansas. We will follow CDC guidelines:  mask, hand sanitizer, and the social distance standard of 6ft apart. Ms. Rose's service may be viewed live through ZOOM. Here are the ZOOM instructions: If you do not have the ZOOM app already, please download it prior to the service. Topic: Funeral Service for Ms. Patricia Rose held at C.V. White High School Gymnasium, Lakeview AR Time: Apr 16, 2022 02:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81194471188?pwd=U3gwRlBkQnpYUkhqWDNVbVNwU0RoZz09 Meeting ID: 811 9447 1188 Passcode: 856702

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Early Life: 

Patricia Ann Rose was born January 15, 1954, in Mellwood, Arkansas, to the late Aunte and Maryze Rose. She was one of thirteen children from this combined union – consisting of nine girls and four boys. Reverend F.A. Simpson baptized Pat, as she is affectionally known, at an early age at Zion Travelers M.B. Church in Mellwood. She attended Elaine Industrial School and graduated from Elaine High School in 1972, where she was highly active as a cheerleader. After graduating high school, she attended the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education. In her professional career, she was a substitute teacher at Lucy Wood Elementary School until she suffered a brain aneurysm/stroke in 1983. Through prayer, love, and determination from friends and family, she was rehabilitated and thrived in her new normal.

Middle Years:

The family was at the core of everything she did, caring for the needs of her late father, Aunte Rose; her late mother-in-law, Addie B. Swanigan; and her late brother, Calvin Rose. A surrogate mother to many, she also cared for her nieces and nephews; DeKitra, Knesha, Duante, and Saeed. She gave birth to her “favorite daughter” and only child, Khatia (Tia) Elizabeth Rose, on October 26th, 1985.

As a devoted mother and caregiver, Patricia and Dwight Swanigan ensured that Tia had many positive experiences, including traveling with family throughout the United States and attending her favorite events- Mellwood in May and the King Biscuit Blues Festival.

She shared her life with her partner, Dwight, for over 33 years. The inseparable couple enjoyed spending time with family and friends, dancing, and celebrating life together.

Known for her baked goods, she ensured that her family lavished in her homemade treats, including teacakes, sweet potato pies, seven-up cakes, and lemon meringue pie. Her special “picnic basket” carried these delectable treats to many family functions and she oftentimes mailed these delicacies to loved ones across the country.

Later Years:

In her later years, Pat’s home was her sanctuary, as she rarely left the house. Her front yard became the location of many impromptu family gatherings and fish fries. She spent her days watching her favorite TV shows, “The Young and The Restless,” ‘Family Feud,” “Monday Night Smackdown,” and the of course the nightly news.

On Sunday, April 3rd, 2022, she departed from this life at home. Pat was loved by many and she left to cherish her precious memories with her life partner, Dwight; her daughter, Khatia; three bonus children, Cammeal Swanigan of Memphis, TN, and Toney  Braggs and Dwight Swanigan Jr., both of Little Rock, AR; four sisters, Evelyn Knowlton of Memphis, TN; Laverne Bobo of DeKalb, IL; Martha Washington of West Helena, AR; and Shirley Rose (Dan Toney) of Lakeview, AR; four brothers in law, Costell Little of Clinton, SC; Jeffery (Elsie) of Marianna, AR; Timothy (Mamie) of Lakeview, AR; Victor (Maryann) of Marshall, MO; and two sisters-in- law, Clementine Rose of Chicago, IL, and Gwendolyn McDaniel of Atlanta, GA; and a host of family and friends.