Obituary of Rosa Lee Hanton

On Monday, March 14, 2022, Rosa Lee Hanton peacefully transitioned into the loving arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The third of six children, Rosa, was born on May 12, 1923, to the late Farris Thompson and Sadie Caldwell Thompson in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

After leaving Rock Hill, Rosa moved to Washington, D.C., where she got a job working for various families caring for their children. At age 14, Rosa accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She attended Bible Way Temple Church for a short time before finding a permanent church home as a member of Highway Christian Church. Affectionately known as "Sister Hanton" or "Mother Hanton," Rosa looked for ways to fellowship and served the congregation by becoming an usher and regularly attending Sunday school.

It was in church In 1940 where she met the love of her life, Clarence A. Hanton. They were married on March 13, 1941, and from that union, they parented three children--a beloved daughter Yvonne (RIP); and two sons Von "Duck" (RIP;) and Arthur" Fish." They all were her babies, as she called them.

In 1949, Rose started working as a baker at Mrs. K's Toll House Restaurant in Silver Spring, MD. She worked there until her retirement in 1985.

Grandma Rose loved to cook for her family. Every Monday and every holiday, family and friends would drop by to have a good meal and a lot of love. The more you ate, the happier she was. During Christmas in particular, she would bake her famous sugar cookies and pass them out to every member at church service to their delight.

Rosa Lee Hanton was the last Matriarch of her 15th Street SE community, having resided there since 1948. Whether she was out taking her daily walk with God or sitting on her front porch, friends and neighbors took special care and interest—the same extension of hospitality and warmth she bestowed upon everyone she met.

She was truly loved by all her Family, Friends, Neighbors, and Church Family. She will truly be missed by all who knew and loved her.

Rosa is preceded in death by her parents, Farris and Sadie; several siblings, James Caldwell, Ira Mae Partlow, Lillian McKinney, Leonard Thompson, Amos Thomas, and Diane Thompson; a daughter, Yvonne Williams; a son, Von Hanton, Sr.; a daughter-in-law, Pamela Hanton; and a great-grandson, Trevon Williams.

She leaves to cherish her memory a son, Arthur Hanton, Sr.; a daughter-in-law, Cheryl Hanton; siblings, Otis Thompson, Ferris Thompson, Jackie Thompson, Sharon Thompson, Omar Thompson; grandchildren, LaVon "Lady" Williams, Tyrone "Skip" Williams (Deborah), Vonja Hanton, Von Hanton, Jr., Arthur Hanton, Jr., Habiba Lomax (Keith), Eric Hanton

(Tonya), Shanna Ford, Alaia Hanton, Michael Hanton; nieces, Helen Smith, Stella Partlow, Martha Wiggins, Angela Thompson, Dorothea "Dot" McCullum; 18 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; myriads of friends, family, and neighbors.