Rose Marie Hilton

On Wednesday January 10th, 2018, our beloved Rose Marie Hilton was granted her angel wings, she was surrounded by her loved ones. Rose was born in Rockford, IL on February 28, 1943 to Stokey and Rose Lee Stephens. She accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of Pilgrim Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor E.H.E Gilbert. She attended Rockford Public School and graduated from West High School. After high school, she attended and graduated from the Baptist affiliated HBCU Florida Memorial College in St. Augustine Florida where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. There she became a member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. She loved her blue and white! Although she was not an active member she would represent by wearing her Zeta Phi Beta shirts, telling family and friends stories of when she was in college and showing family her Zeta Book. She could also proudly say the Greek alphabet forwards and backwards! After college Rose returned home to Rockford where she began her teaching career at Lincoln Park School where she taught for two years. While she was living in Rockford and teaching at Lincoln Park School, she met Charlie! Rosie was no pushover and Charlie had to work hard! They became friends and when he worked up enough nerve to ask, she said yes to a date. After dating for a year and a half, Charlie popped the question and she said YES! They were married on August 16, 1969. They moved to Freeport, IL. This is where Rose met the Bruce and Sherman Street family. They embraced her and made her feel welcome! She began working in Freeport School District 145 at Taylor Park School. She taught there for two years and then taught at Carl Sandburg Middle School where she retired from after teaching for 34 years. She enjoyed teaching and loved the different students that she came in contact with. Teaching English was her passion and she didn't just teach it at school! If you were talking to her and you used improper English, she was quick to correct you! Rose joined her husband as member of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church under the teaching of Rev. R. L Huff. On February 10, 1980. Charles was ordained as a Deacon and Rose went to work doing her Deaconess duties. She was a faithful member of the Choir, Mission and Collars Ministries. She also served faithfully on the Kitchen committee. Although she enjoyed being in the many church ministries, she really enjoyed working in the kitchen. Rosie was a great cook and anyone who knew anything about her knew it! Whether it was her famous macaroni and cheese, her chicken broccoli casserole, her dressing, her meatballs, her greens, her tender prime rib, her rice and practically everything else, we always wanted more! Rosie enjoyed fishing, cooking, double dutching, doing the hambone, and being with friends and family. She loved the days of Sherman Street, where the street was full of families loving each other and kids playing into the wee hours of the morning. She loved family gatherings with her husband, children, siblings, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was always making people laugh! Rose was preceded in death by her father Stokey Stephens, her mother Rose Lee Stephens, one Sister B. B. Shatiqua Owens, one brother, Bobby Stephens and two special friends Clementine Bruch and George Oscar Haynes. She leaves to cherish her smile, her laugh and her memories, her husband of 48 years Charles Hilton, her daughters Stephanie (Kenneth) Lewis, Deja Hilton, Angie and Annette Brown all of Freeport, her son Christopher (Jennifer) Hilton of Plano Texas, her son Nathen Whitehead of Freeport IL, her brother Ricky Stephens of Rockford, and her sisters Jewel Love and Wanda Nowling both of Rockford IL. She also leaves her grandchildren Tianna Hilton of Plano Texas, Kierra Lewis, Samya Hilton, Kamareon Little. Kavaeya Brown and Forrest McClellan all of Freeport IL. Three special daughters, Felicia Lamm, Jennifer Crawford both of Freeport and Katrina Burrow of South Carolina. She also leaves to cherish her memory her God children Shonniel Kimble of Rockford, IL, Caleb Valentine of Rochelle IL, and Dale Loomis Jr. of Rockford IL. Special friends Tyra Johnson, Odessa Yates, Dorothy Pincham, Deaconess Ethel Johnson, Gloria Walls, Emma Turner and Zinata Brown all of Freeport IL, Thelma Haynie of Rockford IL, and Nava Williams of Springfield IL. Also left to cherish her memories were her sisters-in-love, Rachel Sellers and Lillie Bullock both of Freeport IL and Estelle Khanna of Manhattan NY, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was loved immensely and will be missed dearly. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday January 20, 2018 at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church. Visitation will be Friday 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Friday January 19, 2018 at Burke Tubbs Funeral home. Burial will be in City Cemetery. Please sign Mrs. Hilton's guestbook and share a memory at www.burketubbs.com