Rose Lee (Rosalee) Blackwell of Columbus, Ohio passed away surrounded by loving family members on Sunday, April 30, 2023, at Mount Carmel East Hospital. Rosalee was born in Brilliant, Ohio, on January 17, 1937, to the parents of Elizabeth and Perry Blackwell. She was the eldest of eight siblings.

Rosalee grew up in Brilliant, Ohio, and graduated in 1955 from Brilliant High School. In her early teens, she became a Mount Zion Temple Church member where she was baptized and played the piano in the choir. She was also a member of a church choir group, Joyettes, who traveled the country performing gospel music.

Shortly after graduating high school, Rosalee moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she met and married Robert Earl Jackson. Robert, Rosalee, and their son Darrell Lee Blackwell moved to Wichita, Kansas where Rosalee worked as a nurse at a hospital.

The family then moved to St. Charles where she gave birth to Robert Earl Jackson II, Tamara F Jackson, and Marc Jackson. While in St. Charles, the family attended the Baptist Church of Pastor Jessie Watts where Rosalee played the organ.

Around 1972, the family moved to Kansas City, Missouri where Rosalee volunteered in the public schools of her young children. Rosalee always had a desire to learn and enrolled in community education courses in the evening while nursing her young children.

Around 1976, the family moved to Eagan, Minnesota. Rosalee continued volunteering in the schools, attended Minneapolis Technical Institute for nursing community education courses, attended Dakota County Vocational School for vocational courses, and Lakeland Academy Nursing School.

On January 1, 1986, Rosalee was issued the Licensed Practical Nurse Registration. Immediately, she became employed at St. Paul Ramsey Regional Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota where she retired. After retiring, Rosalee returned to Ohio to spend time with and assist with the care of her mother Elizabeth. After her mother passed away, she moved to Columbus, Ohio where she lived with her daughter Tamara and grandchild Ciara until her passing.

Rosalee later in life enjoyed traveling, arts, crafts, baking (especially cakes), and making Afghan blankets for family and friends. Rosalee was a caring, loving, and giving person who didn't require much in return. She spent much of her life sacrificing for others, and for that, her contribution to the world will be everlasting.

Rosalee is preceded in death by her son Darrell L. Blackwell; Columbus, Ohio; parents Elizabeth and Perry Blackwell, brother Lewis Blackwell, sister Lois Forte, and Sylvia Blackwell all of Wintersville, Ohio; sister Alice Blackwell, Columbus, Ohio; nephews Jonathan Forte and Rex Crawley. Rosalee is survived by Brother Robert (Vinnie) Blackwell, Wintersville, Ohio; sister Grace Blackwell, Steubenville, Ohio; sister Marie (Jimmy) Crawley, Durham, North Carolina; former husband, Robert E. Jackson, children Robert E. Jackson II, Elk River, Minnesota; Tamara F. Jackson, Columbus, Ohio; Marc W. Jackson, Columbus, Ohio; grandchildren Michael (Marina) Jackson, Farmington, Minnesota; Leah Jackson; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Deja Jackson, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Malik Blackwell, Columbus, Ohio; Ciara Benjamin, Columbus, Ohio; great-grandchildren Maya Jackson, Farmington, Minnesota; Maliyah Jackson, Farmington, Minnesota and a host of nieces, nephews, friends, family and special lifelong friends: Faye Johnson, Mary Hampton and Delilah Washington.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, May 13, 2023, from 10:30 am until the time of the funeral service, 11:00 am at Greater Zion Temple Family Worship Center, 500 N. 5th Street in Steubenville, Ohio. Please convey condolences to the family through Rosalee's online guestbook. Arrangements entrusted to Gregory-Martin Funeral Home.