Rosena H. (Hawkins) Nauden

Life’s Reflection

Rosena H. Nauden, 96 passed away on June 6, 2017 at her home in Kansas City, Kansas.  She was born on September 17, 1920 in Wynne, Arkansas to John Samuel Love and Mary Cornelius Hawkins.

Rosena grew up in Wynne, Arkansas.  She graduated from The Wynne, Arkansas School System in 1937.  She began work in the late 1930’s in the Dietary Department at Cross County Hospital, and worked for Dr. and Mrs. Gordon Lee Duckworth, Sr. as a domestic until 1959.Upon relocating to Chicago she was employed at Michael Reese Research Hospital Center Blood Bank. After the Blood Bank moved out of state she was employed by Crawford Terrace Rehabilitation and Holy Cross Hospital until her retirement in 1985.

She confessed a love for Christ at a very early age joining Union Valley Missionary Baptist Church.  She served as a member of the Senior Choir until 1959, she joined Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Chicago Illinois in 1995, then she joined Third Street Baptist Church until her death.  She was involved in Lady of Charms Social Club from 1976 until early 1990’s.

She married Morris Hughes, Jr. in 1942, one daughter Johnetta Marie was born to that union.  She was blessed with the birth of her first son, Fredrick Donald Gates who passed at eighteen months of age.  On July 17, 1946, Rosena Hawkins and Vernis Elton Nauden (Coonie) was married, unto that union three children were born, Veronica Patricia Ann; Ardyce Elton; and Arnell Winston.  They were married for 56 years until his death in June 2002.

Rosena was known by many names the one she loved and was known by most, Mother Dear; Madea; Dear Dear; Ma; and Roxanne those name she cherish.  She was also called Pee Wee and she would answer to all but Pee Wee.

To know Rosena was to love her, she touched the lives of many throughout her life.  She was known to never leave home without her make-up and she was always dressed to the “9” everything must match suit, shoes, hat, and purse.  Her favorite thing to do was to shop, travel, and collect kids.  Rosena went above and beyond her duties as a parent by raising three of her great-grandchildren as her own, Joloni Lane; Kouri Lane; and Jodeci Lane.

Rosena was preceded in death by her parents, Mary Hawkins and Samuel Love; husbands, Morris Hughes, Jr.; Vernis Elton Nauden; son, Fredrick Donald Gates; Ardyce Elton Nauden; grandson, Anthony D. Murff; and great-great grandson, G’Han Tyvell Newsom-Bulter.

She leaves to cherish her memory one sister, Frances Cloteal Bobery (Toolum); two daughters Johnetta McConnell (Mack) of Kansas City, Kansas; Patricia Williams (Herbert) of Country Club Hills, Illinois; one son, Arnell Nauden (Doris) of Perris, California; five granddaughters, Adrienne Butler (Marvin) of Nashville, Tennessee; Kimberly Lane of Chicago, Illinois; Rosena Nichole Nauden of Gary Indiana; Phyillis Shan Nauden of Baltimore, Maryland; and Enoya Murff of Kansas City, Kansas; four grandsons, Jeffery Murff (Johnna) of Kansas City, Kansas; Kendall Murff (Candice) of Kansas City, Kansas; DeAndre Lane (Rubye) of Homewood, Illinois; and Anthony Curtis Nauden of Chicago, Illinois; sisters-in-law, Dprptju Collins (Clyde) of Wynne, Arkansas; Maureen House of Tomball, Texas; Alfrederick Nauden of St. Louis, Missouri; Louethel Nauden of Little Rock, Arkansas; brothers-in-law, Bishop Charles Nauden (Cecilia) of Diamond Bar, California; Mervin Nauden (Bobette) of Henderson, Nevada; two step- granddaughters; four step grandsons; eleven great-great grandchildren;21 step great-great grandchildren; a host of nieces and nephews;

Special thanks to many of whom cared for Mother Dear during her illness, Ms. Ruth Fox; Enoya Murff; Denise Davis; Nurse Eduardo.  Very special thanks and gratitude to Johnetta and Mack McConnell; Adrienne and Marvin; for all the care given to Mother Dear throughout of her years of needing special care and assistance.       

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