ROLE MODEL- Rosa Jane (Arabella Sister - The Lioness)

ROLE MODEL

Rosa Jane White

Sister of Arabella Grant

Aunt of Esmie Austin

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AUNT ROSA JANE WHITE

The Lioness

Arabella, Esmie’s mother was a very quiet soft-spoken woman. She was very peaceful and stayed out of trouble. She was the type of person who would turn the other cheek. In other words, she was a push over.

On the other hand, her sister Rosa Jane was strong, and no-one could walk all over her. Fire and fury, she was. She was always there to protect her sister and the children. She did not have any children, neither was she ever married, but the two sisters were inseparable. After Arabella’s husband died, she moved in with Rosa and their mother Christina. Rosa was a seamstress and every money she made from sewing, she used to help with her sister’s fatherless children. Also, the villagers were afraid of her strength and this made Arabella and the fatherless children feel safe and secure.

She had so much self confidence that even her customers were afraid to bring the clothes back to her for alteration. If a customer was brave enough to bring back the clothes, she would send that person away by telling her that, “old fart sing-thing can tan anyhow.”

Though out Rosa’s life she only had on male friend, Bobby Uter which ended when he got a beating from her. Rosa was four feet tall, very black but had a heart of gold. The love that she gave to her sister’s children were unconditional.

Esmie took the peacefulness from her mother, but the strength of standing on her own and making a life for herself she took from Rosa.

Rosa suffered many illnesses. She was asthmatic. She also had a bad heart.

She was a true Christian. The night before she died she said, " I am going home on the morning train. The evening train will be too late". Early the next morning she started singing the song, " Take my life and let it be, consecrate me Lord to thee. Take my moments and my days... She passed while singing this song.

She had a pure heart as she held nothing back. She told people things as they were.

She was a very petite woman. She was also very dark and could not have entered any beauty contest. Her own words, " look how pretty my mother is. Why did she marry such an ugly man?" Not that she did not love her father, but she just did not mix her words. (This is how I feel, and this is what I am going to say. She was the first to tell her enemies that she was black and ugly so that if she is arguing with anyone, they had nothing to say about her looks.