Rosie Lee (Thomas) Hunter 77 of Pittsburg TX, received her heavenly award Wednesday January 18, 2017 in Tyler TX, a Service of praise and celebration will be held Saturday January 28, 2017 at 2pm at the New Testament Holiness Church located at 7550 CR 169 Bangs TX. A visitation will be held Friday from 6-8pm also at the church.
Rosie Lee (Thomas) Hunter, formerly Balfour was born to the late Joseph Columbus Thomas and Jimmie Lee Morris, in Marshall, Texas on April 30, 1939. The family moved to Los Angeles, California in 1943 and then Bakersfield, California in 1948. Rosie Lee (Thomas) Hunter was the fourth child in a family of six Brothers and three Sisters. She spent most of her childhood in the country town of Bakersfield, California and attended Lincoln Elementary School, Lincoln Junior High School, and Bakersfield High School, graduating in 1957.
In her youth, Sis. Rose, as she is affectionately known, faithfully attended her Father’s Church, Missionary Baptist Church, where she sang in the Choir as well as with her Sisters in a singing group called the Jordanaires (later the Gospelett’s). With the encouragement from her father she also learned to play the piano. Sister Rose love playing the piano and singing and it was her comforter throughout her life.
It was this Christian upbringing that guided Sis. Rose through her spiritual journey in life. She spoke often of the morals and values imbued in her by her Mother and Father. She often reflected on her loving Mother who guided with Grace, Wisdom and “Mother-wit Sense”; and her Father who instilled Faith and Pride in his children, directing them to “straighten your back,” “speak up” and “look people in the eyes when you’re talking to them!” Further, her Father taught his children the value of hard work, strict discipline and being a good citizen. He insisted on his children getting some form of higher education.
Her Senior Year in high school, Rosie Lee Thomas met Aubrey Pickett Balfour, Sr., a new military recruit from McGee Arkansas serving in the United States Marines, who she fell instantly in love with (the uniform had something to do with that). They got engaged her senior year and after graduating from Bakersfield High in 1957, she was united in holy matrimony to her high school sweetheart, a “military man,” as she put it “right out of high school.”
Since her new Husband was stationed at El Toro Military Base, she left the country town of Bakersfield, CA and moved to the City of Santa Ana, California near Los Angeles. She enrolled in Henrietta School of Cosmetology and successfully completed beauty school. Thereafter, she opened her own beauty salon with her friend, Wanda Holmes, calling it, Balfour-Holmes Beauty Salon. She “did hair” throughout her life and accompanied it with “talking about Jesus!”
To the union of Sis. and Bro. Balfour was born ten beautiful children: Andre who was stillborn followed by Aurbrey Pickett Jr., Theresa Ann, Serena Lynn, Joseph Dwayne, Deborah Lynn, Cheryse Chantell, and Andrew James, all born in California and two children born in Texas, LaSonja Jenae and the late Christopher Mark who died at Eighteen months in infancy.
A Baptist church girl from the country growing up singing in the Choir, playing the piano, married at 19 years old right out of high school, Sis. Rose naturally gravitated toward an unshakeable Faith in God that described her life. In 1967 she gave her life to the Lord and was filled with the Holy Ghost under the ministry of Rev. Bill Byrd. After moving to Santa Ana, she continued her Church Life at First Missionary Baptist Church under the tutelage of Rev. J.P. Hollins. In Los Angeles, California Sis Rose attended a revival of Prophet David Hezekiah Terrell and began following his Endtime Messenge Ministry. She loved his Azusa Street Revival style, his emphasis on the “One-God” message, and “Holiness be unto the Lord!”
The Balfour Family moved from Santa Ana, California to the “blessed area” of Coleman, Texas in 1975, later settling in Bangs, Texas in 1976. While devoting their lives to serving the Lord, Sis. and Bro. Balfour (known by their neighbors as “Sistuh an’ Brutha Bal-fo’” in country grammar) raised their eight children under the admonition of the Holy Spirit in New Testament Holiness Church of Bangs, Texas, the Church Home of the Balfour Family. Sis Balfo’ stayed home and took care of her children until the youngest was school age. She held Bible Studies on Wednesday nights at her home that attracted children and adults from the entire community. In addition, her uniquely talented children excelled in school as well as in extracurricular activities, such as sports, music and academic competitions.
After her youngest started school, Sis. Rose found employment as a Substitute Teacher at Bangs Elementary, as well as a CNA and a care-giver for elderly people. One job that gave her great joy was a Summer job where she worked with at-risk teens, some already mothers. Her face would light up when she talked about how she witnessed to these young girls the entire Summer and had them to turn their life over to Jesus.
Sis. Rose loved her family and remained a devoted Wife and Mother. Through ups and downs she remained steadfast. All eight of her children graduated and went to college. She imbued them with the Faith she found in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Her greatest desire was for her children to be Saved and make something of themselves. She preached to them daily and made sure they read the Bible and prayed daily. She was very proud of their achievement.
She sang numerous songs in Church throughout the years, her favorite and marquee being, “ME AND THE DEVIL, WE HAD A TUSSLE ONE DAY, BUT THANK GOD I WON!” In addition, at various times she led the Youth Choir, Young People’s Service, All Night Prayer Meetings, Take Time to Care, and Witnessing.
Sis. Rose was a “Prayer Warrior,” traveling Minister/Evangelist, alongside Stella [Gaston] Anderson, Gilda Walker, a Singer, an Usher, and one of the “Mothers” of the Church, Late Pastor Sis Birdie D. Hunter, Pastor Annie Spurlock and Minister Alvin Williams. They would go on missionary journeys throughout Texas and all over the United States. She never shied away from sharing the gospel with whoever would listen.
In April 1994 Sis Rose’s loving Husband, Aubrey Pickett Balfour passed away. She mourned his devotion to God and Family throughout their over 35 years of marriage. She ensured her children were taken care of and guided them on the right path. She continued her faithfulness to the Church and continued spreading the message of Jesus Christ. Less than two years after her first husband, Aurbrey Pickett Balfour, Sr. went on to be with the Lord, Sis. Rose expanded her missionary work and took numerous Missionary Journeys throughout the Country as well as in Asia, particularly villages outside of Bombay, India, and Africa, particularly Kenya. She was particularly proud of her missionary work overseas and testified about how God was moving overseas.
Surprising to her children, Sis. Rose began a “courtship” with widower, Julius George Hunter, Pastor of Christ Today, New Covenant Holiness Church of Pittsburg Texas. They were married in holy matrimony the day after Christmas on December 26, 2000. Moving to Pittsburg, Texas she devoted herself to the Church, Family, including her three step-children, and community for over seventeen years. They became a “missionary team” and undertook many missionary journeys together. She loved Bro. Hunter dearly and became his Sis. Hunter.
In Pittsburg, Texas she started the Summer Youth Retreat to “reach out” to young people whom she carried a special burden. The “Youth Retreat” was her “baby” and it was her central focus for many years. She attempted to reach as many young people as possible. She invited preachers from far and wide to minister to the young people. She exhorted them to get the Holy Ghost. She was a “fanatic for Jesus!” She loved strong-willed preachers who “preached a hard message” who would “tell it [the truth] whether they liked it or not!” One of her favorites was Minister Andre Walker. The annual Summer Youth Retreat has continued for 16 years reaching hundreds of youth and community.
On Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at 1:25 p.m. Sis. Rosie Lee (Thomas) Hunter, formerly Balfour, departed this earthly vessel and transitioned to her heavenly home to abide with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Her enduring Faith won her, her heavenly wings. As she sang so forcefully, “Me and the Devil, We Had a Tussle One Day, Thank God I Won!”
We will always remember our Sis Rose, whether Thomas, Balfour, or Hunter and her total commitment to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who was at the center of her life. As she always says, through good or bad in sickness and in health, here in flesh or spirit “Ain’t nobody mad but the devil!”
She leaves behind her beloved husband and help-mate in her walk with Christ Julius George Hunter. Eight Children: Aurbrey Pickett Balfour Jr. of Longview, Texas, Theresa Ann Balfour of Brownwood, Texas, Serena Madlock of Bangs, Texas, Joseph Dwayne Balfour of Tyler, Texas; Deborah Lynn Terry of Texarkana, Ark.; Cheryse Chantell White of Brownwood, Texas; Andrew James Balfour of Brownwood, Texas; LaSonja Janyne Balfour of Brownwood, Texas; Three Children by marriage, Velma Randelson, James Hunter and Michel Stevenson Hunter; three brothers, Elder Freddie Thomas of Bakersfield, California, Solomon Thomas of Los Angeles, California, and Jerry Thomas and Rancho Cucamonga; two sisters, Angie Banks of Bakersfield California and Mary Williams of Bangs, Texas; twenty-one grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and many more extended family and friends. Services entrusted to Brownwood Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.brownwoodfuneralhome.net.
