Mrs. Rosa Anderson Keith

Rosa Anderson Keith, widow of Thomas Maddox Keith, Sr. and formerly of Greenville, S.C., died Saturday, December 27, 2014. Born at “Tyger Heights”, the family home near Moore, S.C., on July 21, 1925, she was the youngest of five daughters born to James Mason and Rosa Eppes Anderson. She was educated in Spartanburg public schools and graduated from Converse College in 1946 with a degree in chemistry. She worked for the U.S. Treasury in Washington, D.C. and, in 1949, married Tom and moved to Greenville where they raised their four children and enjoyed an active social life and involvement in many community activities. An avid reader and educator at heart, she later pursued a second degree in Library Science and was for many years an elementary school librarian. Rosa and Tom were longtime members of Fourth Presbyterian Church where she taught Sunday school and was active with the Women of the Church. Gifted with a lively intellect, she enjoyed playing bridge and her affiliations with numerous organizations. She was Town Chairman of the Greenville Town Committee of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of South Carolina, a former sustaining member of The Junior League of Greenville, a charter member of the Greenville Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, a Member Emeritus of The Debutante Club and member of The Tuesday Study Club, The Monday Book Club and the Greenville Garden Club. With their shared love of history and genealogy, Rosa and Tom enjoyed traveling around the country and to Europe after his retirement, often researching their ancestry along the way. After Tom’s death in 1991, her greatest joy was spending time with her children and grandchildren, especially on shared holidays and their annual trips to the beach and the family’s mountain home. She is survived by her daughters, Rosa Champney (David C.) of Wilmington, N.C., Mason Williams (Bruce T.) of Columbia, S.C., Elise Heape (Stephen R.) of Charleston, S.C.; daughter-in-law, Janet S. Keith of Greenville, S.C.; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her son, Thomas Maddox Keith, Jr.; and her sisters, Martha Anderson Goldsmith, Margaret Anderson Gibbs, Katharine Mason Anderson and Nancy Anderson Moore. The family expresses their heartfelt appreciation to the many angels who gave tender and loving care to “Miss Rosa” throughout the years. Family and friends are invited to the memorial and burial services at 2 o’clock, Monday, December 29th, at Nazareth Presbyterian Church, 680 Nazareth Church Rd., Moore, S.C. A reception will be held prior to the service, beginning at 12:30 o’clock, in the Social Hall of the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the S.C. Episcopal Home at Still Hopes, Annual Fund, One Still Hopes Dr., West Columbia, S.C. 29169; the S.C. Alzheimer’s Association, 4124 Clemson Blvd, Ste. L, Anderson, S.C. 29621; or the charity of one’s choice.

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Mrs. Rosa Anderson Keith

July 21, 1925 - December 27, 2014