LOU W. ROSSER
March 17, 1938-Sept. 3, 2011
RALEIGH--Lou Williamson Rosser of Raleigh died peacefully at home on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011 from cancer. She was the youngest of five children born to Major and Minnie Wells Williamson in Rocky Mount, N.C. on March 17, 1938. Her beloved husband, Henry Thomas Rosser, predeceased her in 1994.
Lou was educated in the Rocky Mount public schools, graduated from Woman's College of the University of North Carolina, and did graduate work at UNC-CH and NCSU, earning an MA in English. She taught in the public schools, most recently at Broughton High School in Raleigh. Lou retired in 2010 after 18 happy years on the English faculty at Meredith College.
It was always her passion to teach the beautiful literature that she read avidly and to inspire in her students the love of reading and learning which had enriched all aspects of her own life. Lou was active in numerous book clubs, the Encore Program at N.C. State, professional organizations for educators, writing groups, the Democratic Party, and Pullen Memorial Baptist Church.
Lou's love of her cats Walt, Emily and Teddy is well known among her family and friends as was her pleasure in flowers, her love of Raleigh, and of her family roots in Duplin County. Lou loved books, including everything from Shakespeare and Chaucer to Barbara Pym and M.C. Beaton.
She loved countless young people whom she taught, many of whom became lifelong friends whose lives and careers gave her joy.
Lou Rosser is survived by one brother, Lamont Wells Williamson of Columbia, Maryland; one sister, Mrs. W.R. Ross of Newark, Delaware; many loving nieces and nephews; a beloved cousin, Starkey Wells; a special nephew, Derrick Price Williamson, and too many fine friends to list. The family is especially grateful to Dr. Sid Comer and Dr. Steven Liebowitz for their devoted care of Lou over the years and during her last illness.
A funeral service for Lou will be held at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church on September 6 at 11 a.m. Presiding will be the Rev. Nancy E. Petty. Family will receive friends at the church from 10 until 11 a.m. in Finlator Hall. Burial will immediately follow the service at Historic Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh.
Should you wish to honor Lou's memory, please consider a gift to the Meredith College English Department, 3800 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, N.C. 27607; or Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, 1801 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, N.C. 27605; or any animal rescue program; or just read a good book.
Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on September 5, 2011 1:48 PM