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A Rocking Chair Full of Love: Honoring Miss Rosa Ree
At Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, there are some legacies you can measure—and others you simply feel. For generations of our youngest learners, that legacy has looked like a gentle smile, open arms, and a well-worn rocking chair belonging to Rose Marie Jarrett—better known and dearly loved as “Miss Rosa Ree.”
Rose Marie Jarrett started her 2K and 3K program in 1988, where her classroom was more than just a place to learn letters and numbers. It was a place of comfort, patience, and steady love. That rocking chair became a refuge for little ones navigating big emotions:
• First days of school, with both crying children and tearful moms
• End-of-day goodbyes that felt too soon
• Scraped knees and tender hearts
• Disagreements over toys and turns
It would be impossible to count how many children found their way into her lap—but we can try to glimpse the impact. An estimated 8-14 children each year over 37 years means more than 350 young lives shaped in those early, formative days. Add to that the parents and grandparents who trusted her, leaned on her, and were comforted by her presence, and the number grows even more.
And then there is the part we cannot calculate at all: the seeds of faith planted along the way. Through daily moments of kindness, prayer, and gentle guidance, Miss Rosa Ree helped point countless children toward the love of Christ. Many of those children continued their journey right here within the life of our church, carrying with them the foundation she helped build.
Her impact cannot be measured in numbers alone. It is found in the confidence of a child who felt safe, the reassurance of a parent who knew their child was loved, and the quiet, faithful way she lived out her calling each and every day.
Her legacy is one of love, patience, and unwavering faith. “Well done, good and faithful servant.” We will honor Rose Marie on Sunday, May 31, 2026.
Have Fun,
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