Missionary Rosetta Powell-Savage, 76

MILTON - Missionary Rosetta Powell-Savage of Milton departed this life Monday, Sept. 10, 2007, and went home to be with the Lord. She was 76.

Missionary Rosetta was born Dec. 18, 1930, in Norfolk, Va., to the late Clara and Ross Lambert.

She received her early education in Titus Town, Norfolk.

In 1948, she moved to Milton and was converted in the Mount Zion Holiness Church under the leadership of the late Elder Jacob Brittingham Sr.

Missionary Rosetta then attended the Mount Sinai Holy Mission Church under the leadership of her sister, the late Pastor Viola Butts.

She was a missionary, pianist and member of the church choir.

Missionary Rosetta was known as a soloist, singing three of her favorite songs, "Smile," "I Made it to the Main Highway," and "Please Be Patient with Me."

Later in 1998, she transferred her membership and continued her missionary work while serving God under the leadership of her daughter, Pastor Patricia Powell, in the newly renovated Watch God Move Christian Center, where she was mother of the church.

Missionary Rosetta"s strong religious conviction and belief in God dictated and guided her actions and reaction.

She was an icon in her community. She often visited the sick when she wasn"t feeling well herself.

Missionary Rosetta would make friends at the senior center when she visited in her spare time.

She would always lend a helping hand to assist those in need.

There were many occasions when she may see a person smoking and would go to them and say, "Smoking is bad for your health and it"s a bad habit. Jesus loves you and I do too and that is why I am telling you."

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Louis Powell Jr.; four brothers; three sisters, Viola Butts, Mary Mynatt and Louise Eley; and one son, Ernest Samuel.

She is survived by one brother, Raymond Lambert of Bridgeville, who lovingly called her "Mutt"; one sister, Daisey Williams of Salisbury, Md.; four daughters, Clara Wright of Ellendale, Delores Hurst of Laurel, Patricia Powell of Bridgeville, and Barbara Soto of Seaford; one son, Louis Powell Jr. of Georgia; one daughter-in-law, Debbie Powell; two sons-in-law, Willie Wright and Leroy Hurst; 24 grandchildren; 60 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be 6 p.m. Sunday at Mt. Zion Holiness Church, Milton, where friends may call two hours prior.

Burial will be in the Milford Community Cemetery on Monday.

Arrangements by Bennie Smith Funeral Home.