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“DON’T EVER THINK I FELL FOR YOU, OR FELL OVER YOU.<br />
I DIDN’T FALL IN LOVE, I ROSE IN IT.” 56<br />
TONI MORRISON<br />
Rosa very much enjoyed being close to family. She built her house next to her inlaws<br />
and across the yard from her sister, Verna, and brother-in-law, Nathan<br />
Holmes. She also possessed a strong desire and skill to keep track of what was<br />
happening within the Black community of Christiansburg, VA. She made it a<br />
point to stay connected to her extended family and friends with cards, letters,<br />
phone calls, amazing sour cream pound cakes and constantly going places<br />
throughout the United States. Ironically though, she never learned how to drive<br />
a car.<br />
She graduated from Virginia State College with a Bachelor of Science degree on<br />
May 28, 1956. She completed some coursework for her Master of Science<br />
degree, but was so homesick she did not finish her degree. She immediately<br />
returned to Cambria, VA 57 which later became part of Christiansburg, VA, and<br />
began teaching the Colored Harris Hart Elementary School in Floyd County, VA. 58<br />
Rosa’s career also spanned decades. She was a devoted sister, aunt, wife, sisterin-law,<br />
teacher, church member, embroiderer, quilter, award-winning African<br />
violet grower and community volunteer. Throughout her life, she spent much of<br />
the day reading and preparing for her next Bible study or community event.<br />
As she would come across interesting things in the newspaper, she would cut<br />
out the articles, date them and put them in a scrapbook. She was very mindful<br />
of what she chose. Much of the Holmes’ family history is from her scrapbooks.<br />
Some of her other pictures are part of various books such as Images of America:<br />
Christiansburg 59 and part of local exhibits and digital archives at Virginia Tech. 60<br />
Her multiple volumes contain every card and letter written while Zimri was in<br />
the US Army. She kept just about every program from a special event she<br />
attended. The collection also contained obituaries, photos of the family and<br />
places where she taught and visited.<br />
Each day we have the opportunity to pursue additional knowledge. We choose<br />
the people and situations from which we learn. Experience can be a teacher as<br />
well; however, sometimes it is only in hindsight that we master the lessons. It is<br />
through our daily choices that we set the tone for our lives.<br />
<strong>THE</strong> <strong>TIGER</strong> & <strong>THE</strong> <strong>TORCH</strong> Page | 51