Thomas Jackson Rose

Thomas Jackson Rose (“Jack”), 92, passed away at his home in Baton Rouge on June 1, 2021. Funeral services are 11 A.M., June 7 at Greenwood Delta Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Jim Phillips officiating. Visitation with the family will begin at 9:30.  Interment will be 2:30 at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Gore Springs.

Jack was born in 1929 to Milton Henry and Rachel Jackson Rose in Grenada County, and graduated from Gore Springs School. At the age of 16, Jack drove the first school bus in Grenada County. Jack was an avid reader, and though he was unable to attend college, he spent his life educating himself through hundreds of non-fiction books and novels.

Jack married his beloved high school sweetheart, Mary Edna, and moved to Greenwood in 1950. Jack and Mary Edna shared 72 beautiful years of marriage, and were models of grace, partnership, and love. They were passionate and generous members of their church and community, and shared in their love of God, music, food, and family. Jack was blessed to have Mary Edna caring for him through his final days. Jack was a loving father, and later in life was a much beloved and treasured “Granddad.” A few years before he passed, Jack and Mary Edna relocated to Baton Rouge to be closer to their daughter and grandchildren.

Jack worked in service and sales for Delta Chevrolet, and later Buddy Jones Ford. His natural charisma and genuine love of talking to people from all walks of life made him an outstanding salesman, and even better friend. He loved entertaining, and would often invite new and old friends to his home for a meal. He loved hearing people’s stories, and celebrating and encouraging others. Even in his 90s, Jack continued to make new friends in Baton Rouge.

Jack was an extraordinarily talented gardener, growing as many as 200 tomato plants – in addition to watermelons, cucumbers, green beans, and the tallest sunflowers you’ve ever seen. Jack also enjoyed quail hunting, fishing, and teaching young people how to water ski. He was a faithful member of North Greenwood Baptist church, and lived his faith by helping and encouraging others. He cut his neighbors’ grass for years when they could not.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers, Jim Rose and Bob Rose. Jack is survived by his wife, Mary Edna Shaw Rose; a daughter, Patricia Ann Rose Johnson and her husband Fred of Baton Rouge, LA; his grandchildren, Thomas Johnson of New Orleans, William Johnson and his wife Lourdes of Houston, Robert Johnson and his wife Morgan of Baton Rouge and Anna Johnson of Chicago. Great grandchildren, Fred and Sofia Johnson of Houston, and Paul and Luke Johnson of Baton Rouge. Two brothers, Bill Rose (Carolyn) of Holcomb, Mississippi and Ben Rose (Mary) of Lauderdale, Mississippi, one sister, Betty Thompson of Grenada, and many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be his grandchildren and nephews: Thomas Johnson, Will Johnson, Robert Johnson, Anna Johnson, Bubba Rose, Mike Rose, Jay Rose, James Shaw, Ken Shaw, Ben Shaw and Lynn Shaw.

The family would like to thank Nova Brandon for her assistance with his care the past two years, and Hospice of Baton Rouge.

Memorials may be made to North Greenwood Baptist Church or Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Gore Springs. 

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