Obituary for Rosa Lee Heard (Bennett)
Rosa Lee Heard (Affectionately known as Mother Heard) born January 26, 1932 in Natchez, MS, to Andrew and Annie Laura Bennett. She departed this life peacefully on November 7, 2019 at her residence. She was 87 years old.
Upon moving to Michigan, Rosa married the love of her life Hubert L. Heard Sr. Having confessed Christ at an early age, she became a devoted member of the New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church where she remained faithful until her departure. She resided in Ypsilanti, MI with her son Mitchell and his wife Linda, who assisted “her” mom with committed love and care for many years.
Rosa worked many jobs before retiring from Chelsea Milling Company, “Jiffy Mixes. In her later years, she volunteered as a Foster Grandparent, a job which she loved.
Mother Heard was a strong prayer warrior who exemplified an unwavering faith in God. She had a gentle and caring spirit, forever encouraging everyone she spoke with. She had an undying love for her family, church family, and her special friends. She had a close and special relationship with her sister Jean who visited her often. She adored and was very supportive of her Pastor, Rev J. Nathaniel Crout. Her heart’s desire was for all of her family and everyone to be saved. She lived and sang her Testimony, “Down Through the Years, God’s Been Good to Me.”
Rosa was preceded in death by her parents, Andrew and Annie Laura Bennett, her loving husband, Hubert L. Heard Sr., and one brother, Walter Bennett. She leaves to cherish her memory four siblings: Andrew Bennett of Natchez, MI, Edward Bennett of Ann Arbor, MI, Myrtle Jean (Odis) Richardson of Chelsea, MI, and Theodore (Ester) Bennett of San Francisco, CA; five children: Mitchell (Linda) Heard Sr. of Ypsilanti, MI; Audrey (Rev. J. Nathaniel) Crout of Ypsilanti, MI, J Kirk Heard of Harlem, NY, Myra (Vic) Hamilton of Ypsilanti, MI, and W. Curtis (Donna) Heard of Gross Isle, MI; 18 grandchildren: Michael Heard, Mitchell Heard Jr, Robale Tyler, Tonya Powell, Nathias Heard, Jasmine Jackson, Rev. David Crout, Desmond Hamilton, David Hamilton, Vanesha Smith, Vanessa Norwood, Vic Hamilton Jr, Tyler Hamilton, Andrew Hamilton, Kenney Gowen, W. Curtis Heard Jr, Jeremiah Heard, and Duran Heard; six stepchildren: Hubert Jr. (Dee) Heard, Shirley Heard, Rev. Sheila (Randal) Reed, Janice Jordan, and Yolanda Cranon, all of Toledo, OH, and Larry Heard of California. Several great-grandchildren, a host of nieces and nephews, special longtime friends: Charlene Glaze and Zella Taylor, her special son Marsellus Coleman, many special “daughters” of her loving New Covenant church family, and the Caring Staff at Fresenius Dialysis.
Saying goodbye to Rosa/Mom was never short! After saying goodbye, she would always add:
“DRIVE CAREFUL, BE CAREFUL, GOD BLESS YOU, I LOVE YOU, BE BLESSED AND ALL THE GOOD STUFF!”
Her loving words will linger in our hearts forever!
Upon moving to Michigan, Rosa married the love of her life Hubert L. Heard Sr. Having confessed Christ at an early age, she became a devoted member of the New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church where she remained faithful until her departure. She resided in Ypsilanti, MI with her son Mitchell and his wife Linda, who assisted “her” mom with committed love and care for many years.
Rosa worked many jobs before retiring from Chelsea Milling Company, “Jiffy Mixes. In her later years, she volunteered as a Foster Grandparent, a job which she loved.
Mother Heard was a strong prayer warrior who exemplified an unwavering faith in God. She had a gentle and caring spirit, forever encouraging everyone she spoke with. She had an undying love for her family, church family, and her special friends. She had a close and special relationship with her sister Jean who visited her often. She adored and was very supportive of her Pastor, Rev J. Nathaniel Crout. Her heart’s desire was for all of her family and everyone to be saved. She lived and sang her Testimony, “Down Through the Years, God’s Been Good to Me.”
Rosa was preceded in death by her parents, Andrew and Annie Laura Bennett, her loving husband, Hubert L. Heard Sr., and one brother, Walter Bennett. She leaves to cherish her memory four siblings: Andrew Bennett of Natchez, MI, Edward Bennett of Ann Arbor, MI, Myrtle Jean (Odis) Richardson of Chelsea, MI, and Theodore (Ester) Bennett of San Francisco, CA; five children: Mitchell (Linda) Heard Sr. of Ypsilanti, MI; Audrey (Rev. J. Nathaniel) Crout of Ypsilanti, MI, J Kirk Heard of Harlem, NY, Myra (Vic) Hamilton of Ypsilanti, MI, and W. Curtis (Donna) Heard of Gross Isle, MI; 18 grandchildren: Michael Heard, Mitchell Heard Jr, Robale Tyler, Tonya Powell, Nathias Heard, Jasmine Jackson, Rev. David Crout, Desmond Hamilton, David Hamilton, Vanesha Smith, Vanessa Norwood, Vic Hamilton Jr, Tyler Hamilton, Andrew Hamilton, Kenney Gowen, W. Curtis Heard Jr, Jeremiah Heard, and Duran Heard; six stepchildren: Hubert Jr. (Dee) Heard, Shirley Heard, Rev. Sheila (Randal) Reed, Janice Jordan, and Yolanda Cranon, all of Toledo, OH, and Larry Heard of California. Several great-grandchildren, a host of nieces and nephews, special longtime friends: Charlene Glaze and Zella Taylor, her special son Marsellus Coleman, many special “daughters” of her loving New Covenant church family, and the Caring Staff at Fresenius Dialysis.
Saying goodbye to Rosa/Mom was never short! After saying goodbye, she would always add:
“DRIVE CAREFUL, BE CAREFUL, GOD BLESS YOU, I LOVE YOU, BE BLESSED AND ALL THE GOOD STUFF!”
Her loving words will linger in our hearts forever!