Rosa Campbell

Rosa Means Lenoir Campbell was the youngest child born to William Jacob and Bertha Williams Means. She received her grade school education at Pineville Sterling High School, a one room colored schoolhouse. Rosa was smart and athletic, playing basketball and graduating as valedictorian of her class in 1945. After graduation, Rosa attended Johnson C Smith University on scholarship with intentions of majoring in nursing. After failing a science class her freshman year and losing her scholarship Rosa changed her major to Early Childhood Education. Determined to stay in school, and having limited resources, Rosa worked during the summers, babysitting and washing dishes in a neighborhood restaurant, while visiting her sister Elizabeth in Washington, DC. While at Smith, Rosa worked as a nanny for the University physician, Dr. Gordon Wilkins. During her senior year, she worked as a live-in nanny for the Wilkins family. After graduation in 1949, Rosa worked at the St. Paul Baptist Church Nursery, where several of her nieces and nephews attended the nursery. While working and attending Little Hope AME Zion Church (Walls Memorial), Rosa met and married Rev. William H. Lenoir, Sr. This union produced 2 children, Rosalind and William. The couple served churches in East St. Louis, IL, Ithaca, NY, and New Britain, CT, where Rev. Lenoir passed. Rosa and the children returned to Charlotte in 1965, where Rosa began teaching at Our Lady of Consolation Catholic School. Rosa later met and married Deacon James L. Campbell of Mooresville, NC. In Mooresville, she taught second grade with the Mooresville Graded School District for 23 years and continued to substitute after retiring. After James passed in 2006, Rosa moved to Cornelius and remained active by joining the Lake Norman YMCA. By this time Rosa was actively involved with her great-grandchildren. During college, Rosa became endeared to Little Rock AME Zion Church while attending with her Great Aunts and Uncles. In 1979 Rosa joined Little Rock under the pastorate of the late Dr. William M. White, Sr., and rejoined under Dr. Dwayne A Walker. Her Little Rock ministries included: Board of Deaconess, Leader of Leaders, Parent Body Missionary Society, Sunday School teacher, Lay Council, and a faithful member of Class 6. Survivors are children: Rosalind Lenoir Zachary and William H Lenoir, Jr. (Tammy); grandchildren: Nicole Zachary, Vivian Lenoir, Jamison Mosley, W. Roger Sloan (Bertha), Dwight Sloan, and Craige Sloan (Sarah); great-grandchildren: Damarion Zachary-Powell, Radiance Little, Ronnie Little, Reigna Little, Javon Mosley, Jasiah Mosley, William Sloan, Willona Sloan, Chamekia Spencer (Jon), Dwight Sloan, Roketa Henry (Wesley), Ashanti Sloan, and Craige Sloan, Jr.; sister in-law: Lillie Talford Means; special niece: Connie Chisolm, and 4 generations of nieces and nephews; special cousins: Rev. Gwendolyn Moore and Clifford Rhinehart.