ROSA BELL BENNETT

Rosa Bell Watson (Bennett) was born in Chesterfield, SC on February 1, 1925, to Hess Little (Watson) and William Watson. She was the first of four children. She peacefully transitioned this life on February 10, 2025.

Rosa Bell Bennett attended South Carolina Public Schools, where she met the late Simon Peter Bennett, and after courting for some time, they were married on August 23rd, 1941. Rosa Bell Bennett gave birth to their first child (Dorothy) before her husband was recruited by the US Army. She remained in Chesterfield, SC until his return, and they continued raising their family, and having more children as time went on. Once her children were grown, Dorothy moved to New Haven, CT in 1964; with one sibling following shortly after. Then Rosa, Simon and the rest of the children followed in 1970 when they all made Connecticut their permanent home.  Rosa Bell Bennett soon found employment at Amy Sue Dress factory where she worked until retirement. She enjoyed her retirement for a year or two and then decided to go back into the workforce. She became employed at Gateway Community College Childcare Center as a Foster Grandparent. With all the love she gave her family, she still found more love to give the children in her care at Gateway. The children loved her so much, always rallying around her and always looked forward to doing activities with her. They simply looked forward to her presence every weekday. She retired from that position and concentrated on being the best Matriarch to her family that she could be.

Rosa Bell Bennett was a longtime and faithful member of Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church, where she sang in the Mass Choir and the Senior Choir. She attended faithfully until she became ill and was no longer able. Ms. Bennett was a very kind, loving, respectable, and honorable woman who was full of wisdom, knowledge and grace. She loved God and her family. She absolutely loved spending time with her family; having cookouts and celebrating all the holidays at her daughters or granddaughter's homes, she loved traveling, shopping and going out to eat, especially after church. Once she shopped on Jamaica Avenue for the first time, she was hooked, as were we all. The many suits, hats and shoes she purchased always made her feel like a million bucks and she always looked good in them too. She loved sitting in her recliner at home, listening to gospel being preached, listening to her gospel tapes / cd's, and watching her spiritual shows along with some of her other shows, such as Texas Ranger, Are We There Yet? and anything with Madea in it that would make her laugh, Wheel of Fortune, and The Price is Right, just to name a few.  She also loved watching the news just to make sure she kept up with what was latest around the world. Although she loved those shows, she would not let a Sunday pass without making sure she gave her time to God thru prayer and her Sunday gospels.

Ms. Bennett leaves to cherish her memory; her children: Dorothy Little, Ethel Moore, William Bennett and Nancy Hines (all of New Haven, CT). She also leaves 16 grandchildren, 27 great grand-children and 12 great-great grandchildren and a host of other loving relatives and friends. She is predeceased by her loving husband Simon Bennett, her daughter Geraldine Little, her granddaughter Shawn Lee and her great-grandson Jai'Rus Little.

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