Service
Ms. Livingston will be laid to rest Monday February 16, 2015 at Pearl Street AME Church Jackson, MS. Her services will begin at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be on Sunday February 15, 2014, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Willis and Sons Funeral Home.
Obituary
On January 26, 1933, Rosalee Livingston was born in Belzoni, Mississippi to her parents, John and Jessie. She was the only child born to this union. She went home to be with the Lord on February, 9, 2015 in Jackson Mississippi.
Growing up Rosalee lived in the Sky Lake area outside of Belzoni Mississippi. She accepted Christ at an early age and attended her family's home church, Paxton Missionary Baptist Church.
In 1942 she moved to Detroit with her paternal grandparents. Early in life, Rosalee began to develop a sense of compassion and concern for others while beginning her life of many 'firsts'.
She attended and graduated from the Prestigious Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan, with aspirations to become a Physician. When she graduated, she became the 'first' member of her extended family to formally finish high school.
In 1950, she enrolled in and attended the University of Chicago, majoring in pre -med. Due to family and financial matters, Rosalee had to discontinue her pre-med studies after a year; but, she then enrolled in the University of Illinois, Cook County School of Nursing in Chicago. In her class of fifty-seven student nurses, she was one of the three African Americans.
While a student at Cook County, Rosalee joined the Illinois State Student Nurse Association. She was later elected to and served as its president, becoming the first African American to serve. She graduated in 1954.
After graduation, she accepted a job as a nurse caring for polio victims at Grassland County Hospital during an epidemic near Scarsdale, New York. Shortly thereafter, she returned to Detroit and worked as nurse at Grace Hospital. Later, she worked as a nurse for the Wayne County Health Department and Harper Hospital, both in Detroit, Michigan. While at Harper Hospital, she became the 'first' African American nurse to serve as a head nurse in the Intensive Care Unit and Coronary Care Unit.
During the 1960's, Rosalee Left the clinical settings of hospitals and joined Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM). In 1976, she became the 'first' African American to e appointed to a vice presidential position at the company. As she advanced in her career at BCBSM, she was promoted to various positions, at one time overseeing a staff of over 750 employees.
While working at BCBSM, she managed to balance work and family. Rosalee enrolled in the University of Detroit where she earned a BA degree in Marketing. In 1978 she was the 'first ' person sponsored by BCBSM in an accelerated program at Michigan State University. She graduated from the program in 1980, having earned a Masters in Business Administration.
Before Rosalee could formally retire from BCBSM in 1995 with more than twenty-seven years of service, she was recruited by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi (BCBSMS) as the Senior Vice President of Government Business. Once again, she was the 'first' African American to be selected to the position.
In 1999 , she decided to take retirement seriously. She finally retired from BCBSMS. Well, maybe seriously is not the word. She could not resist taking on part time work as an instructor at Bellhaven University; she started her own healthcare consulting firm and even worked as a consultant for her daughter's law firm. her strong work ethic always remained in her life.
Regardless of the city and state she lived in, Rosalee was an active member in several civic, professional and religious organizations. She served as a mentor for children in both Detroit, Michigan and Jackson, Mississippi school systems; a member of Oak Grove A.M.E. Church for 25 years where she served on the Lay Organization, the Board of Trustees and as the only female member of the Mission on Stewardship and Finance Committee; a steward, a member of the Laura Felts Women's Missionary Society, president and founder of the Pearl Street A.M.E. Evening Stars; and President of Dress for Success Jackson. In addition, Rosalee earned he designation of life-master bridge player, having traveled extensively for bridge tournaments. Along with numerous awards over the years, she was most recently recognized by BCBSM employees, twenty years after her retirement, with a 2015 "Whose Shoulders Are We Standing On" Trailblazer Award.
Rosalee is survived by her three children: Ezra Livingston, III, Karen Livingston_Wilson (Mark) and Judith Anne Livingston; and her grandson Mark Edward Wilson, Jr.
Growing up Rosalee lived in the Sky Lake area outside of Belzoni Mississippi. She accepted Christ at an early age and attended her family's home church, Paxton Missionary Baptist Church.
In 1942 she moved to Detroit with her paternal grandparents. Early in life, Rosalee began to develop a sense of compassion and concern for others while beginning her life of many 'firsts'.
She attended and graduated from the Prestigious Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan, with aspirations to become a Physician. When she graduated, she became the 'first' member of her extended family to formally finish high school.
In 1950, she enrolled in and attended the University of Chicago, majoring in pre -med. Due to family and financial matters, Rosalee had to discontinue her pre-med studies after a year; but, she then enrolled in the University of Illinois, Cook County School of Nursing in Chicago. In her class of fifty-seven student nurses, she was one of the three African Americans.
While a student at Cook County, Rosalee joined the Illinois State Student Nurse Association. She was later elected to and served as its president, becoming the first African American to serve. She graduated in 1954.
After graduation, she accepted a job as a nurse caring for polio victims at Grassland County Hospital during an epidemic near Scarsdale, New York. Shortly thereafter, she returned to Detroit and worked as nurse at Grace Hospital. Later, she worked as a nurse for the Wayne County Health Department and Harper Hospital, both in Detroit, Michigan. While at Harper Hospital, she became the 'first' African American nurse to serve as a head nurse in the Intensive Care Unit and Coronary Care Unit.
During the 1960's, Rosalee Left the clinical settings of hospitals and joined Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM). In 1976, she became the 'first' African American to e appointed to a vice presidential position at the company. As she advanced in her career at BCBSM, she was promoted to various positions, at one time overseeing a staff of over 750 employees.
While working at BCBSM, she managed to balance work and family. Rosalee enrolled in the University of Detroit where she earned a BA degree in Marketing. In 1978 she was the 'first ' person sponsored by BCBSM in an accelerated program at Michigan State University. She graduated from the program in 1980, having earned a Masters in Business Administration.
Before Rosalee could formally retire from BCBSM in 1995 with more than twenty-seven years of service, she was recruited by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi (BCBSMS) as the Senior Vice President of Government Business. Once again, she was the 'first' African American to be selected to the position.
In 1999 , she decided to take retirement seriously. She finally retired from BCBSMS. Well, maybe seriously is not the word. She could not resist taking on part time work as an instructor at Bellhaven University; she started her own healthcare consulting firm and even worked as a consultant for her daughter's law firm. her strong work ethic always remained in her life.
Regardless of the city and state she lived in, Rosalee was an active member in several civic, professional and religious organizations. She served as a mentor for children in both Detroit, Michigan and Jackson, Mississippi school systems; a member of Oak Grove A.M.E. Church for 25 years where she served on the Lay Organization, the Board of Trustees and as the only female member of the Mission on Stewardship and Finance Committee; a steward, a member of the Laura Felts Women's Missionary Society, president and founder of the Pearl Street A.M.E. Evening Stars; and President of Dress for Success Jackson. In addition, Rosalee earned he designation of life-master bridge player, having traveled extensively for bridge tournaments. Along with numerous awards over the years, she was most recently recognized by BCBSM employees, twenty years after her retirement, with a 2015 "Whose Shoulders Are We Standing On" Trailblazer Award.
Rosalee is survived by her three children: Ezra Livingston, III, Karen Livingston_Wilson (Mark) and Judith Anne Livingston; and her grandson Mark Edward Wilson, Jr.
