Rosalie Bell Paige, beloved matriarch, community leader, and dedicated servant of the Lord, was called home to Glory at the age of 93 on October 5th, 2024. Born in Campbell, Ohio, Rosalie was the ninth of eleven children born to the late John Henry Bell and Mary Frances Bell. She spent her formative years in Struthers, Ohio, a suburb of Youngstown, where she met her future husband, Garnett A. Franklin.

Garnett and his brother Fred had left Montgomery County, Virginia, in search of work in Ohio. Fred married Lois, and Garnett pursued Rosalie with his quiet charm. Shortly after their marriage, Garnett moved his new bride to his hometown of Cambria, Virginia, now known as Christiansburg.

Rosalie's journey into her new life began with the challenge of adapting to rural Virginia. She often recounted her first encounter with an outhouse, famously asking, "What did I get myself into?" Yet, over time, she came to recognize that God had blessed her with "a little piece of heaven" in the New River Valley. Together, she and Garnett raised seven children while operating several small businesses. Their life together was tragically cut short when Garnett passed away in 1968 at the age of 39.

At just 38 years old, Rosalie was left to raise seven children, ages 17 to 4, on her own. With unwavering faith and strength, she persevered. She became an active member of Schaeffer Memorial Baptist Church from 1949 until her health began to decline, serving on multiple committees and teaching Sunday School for nearly 50 years.

In 1978, Rosalie married Thomas Redman and remained with him until his passing in 1985. Later, she became known for her beloved eatery, Rosalie's Soul Kitchen, which left a lasting impression on the Christiansburg community.

Rosalie was a passionate advocate for civil rights and community service. She was a lifetime member of the NAACP and held leadership positions, including President of the Virginia State Head Start Parents Committee. She was a founding member of The Community Group and The New Mountain Climbers Giving Circle and served on the Montgomery County Board of Elections, eventually becoming chair. After over 25 years at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant, she retired but continued to advocate for justice and equity, never hesitating to challenge the status quo with a firm "Who said so?"

In the early 1990s, Rosalie married Rev. Frank Paige, with whom she enjoyed a loving marriage until his death in 2001. She led many initiatives, including the renovation of the Old Hill School, and she was instrumental in helping people secure jobs, all while continuing to champion fairness and justice.

Rosalie will be profoundly missed by her family and the community she served so passionately.

Preceding her in death are her parents, John Henry Bell and Mary Frances Bell; brothers, John, Joseph, James, William, David, Lester, and Robert; sisters, Geneva and Deloris; husbands, Garnett A. Franklin, Thomas Redman, and Frank Paige; and grandson, Joseph L. Delaney.

She is survived by her precious sister Carol Ware and her husband Louis of Denver, Colorado, as well as her seven cherished children: Frances, Garnett, Penny, and Allen (Tammi) of Christiansburg, Virginia; Dorothy, Lisa, and Mark (Carol) of Raleigh, North Carolina. Her memory is also upheld by her nine adored grandchildren: Toni (John), Nicolette (Kevin), Everette (Aerial), Bre, Franklyn (Ashley), Danielle (Cooper), Taylor-Kate, Courtney, and Noah. Rosalie's legacy lives on through her twelve treasured great-grandchildren: Demetrius, Marcus, Xavier, Shaniyah, Taylor, Tyson, Zuriana, Yaleina, Wynn, Trice, Rosalie, and Sarabi. She is also lovingly remembered by seven very special nieces and nephews and their families, along with a host of friends and extended family from coast to coast.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to one of the following organizations: New Mountain Climbers Giving Circle at https://thecommunitygroup.org/donate/ or The Old Hill School in Christiansburg, Virginia, located at 503A W Main St, Christiansburg, VA 24071.

A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, October 11th at Schaeffer Memorial Baptist Church. Visitation will begin at 11:30 AM and last until 12:45 PM, with the memorial service to follow at 1:00 PM. In consideration of those attending, the family kindly requests that perfume and cologne use be limited, as someone in attendance is sensitive to strong scents.