Rosa Matthews Obituary

Rosa Mae Green Mansour Matthews, age 90, passed away peacefully in the presence of her beloved daughters on Saturday, February 28th, 2026.

Rosa was born on February 10th, 1936, in Locust Grove, Georgia to the late Leonard and Ruby Green. She graduated top of her class from Cass High in 1954. Much of her career was spent working in administrative support for US Rubber Co, BP Oil, Sinclair Oil, and Equifax.

Rosa was known for her abundant hospitality and humorous, kind-hearted nature. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, and traveling. Rosa was active at North Druid Hills Christian Church in Atlanta, Kingston Baptist, and North Pointe Church in Adairsville, GA. She also cherished serving her community in the Kingston Women’s History Club, the Adairsville Community Garden, and the Adairsville-Bartow Chamber of Commerce.

Rosa was the cornerstone of her family. Wherever Rosa was, people gathered, and people laughed, and people ate a lot of good food. Rosa made her house a home to whomever needed it, and she always went the extra mile to ensure that all of her guests felt welcome. Those without family became part of her family. Those without home-cooked meals were able to have one in her home (or were able to have one delivered by Rosa herself if they lived close by). Those who had not laughed in ages were sure to find a laugh with Rosa. Her number one goal was to ensure that any and everyone around her felt happy, cared for, and at peace in her presence. It was hard to keep a negative emotion around Rosa– she had a unique way of remaining calm, neutral, and pleasant in the face of disagreements between others. She had an underappreciated ability to ease tension between people; she found common ground and brought laughter into situations when others could not. 

Rosa did not take life too seriously, though her priorities in life were clear: God, family, and quality time with the people in her community. If you have spent any time with Rosa, you know how dedicated she was to pouring into her community, and what’s more is that she served her loved ones in silence. She did not ask for praise, or thanks, or recognition, or a helping hand... She quietly showed her love through making others food, making others laugh, sharing her home, her time, her love (and sometimes her special orange juice). Rosa let you come to her as you were and rest with her as you were. Rosa was peace, and a person you could always find calm with if you were feeling overwhelmed. Rosa did not judge others. Rosa did not sweat the small things. Rosa made lemonade with all the lemons life gave to her, (and sometimes she made extra sweet lemonade when she told stories of events past that weren’t quite how you remembered them, but somehow 10x more exciting). 

In addition to the love and care she showed to all of her brothers and sisters, her daughters, her grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, Rosa showed genuine love and care to her neighbors, acquaintances, and other members of her community, as well. Her heart was a mary-poppins bag, the depths of which were never found, as no matter who or how many people needed her love and safe-keeping, she could always find room. Rosa could be stubborn, and some might even say she had selective hearing, but none could ever say that she was mean, or selfish, or uncaring. 

She was a shining example of The Way of Love, 1 Corinthians 13: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” Rosa’s love will endure far beyond the time she had on this Earth, and it is surely making waves in Heaven as we speak. May she rest in peace knowing that her kindness and devotion have left a mark on the lives of all who have known her.

Rosa was preceded in death by her first husband, John Mansour, whom she married in 1965 and who passed away in 2008. She later married Edwin “Eddie” Matthews in 2009, who preceded her in death in 2020.

In addition to her husbands and parents, Rosa was preceded in death by her sister Becky Hunter, brothers Olin, Harbin, and Byron Green, and daughter-in-law Renee Mansour.

She will be forever loved and remembered by her daughters, Judy Henderson (Gene) and Rosie Mansour (Dr. Ken Arthur); her step-son, Johnny Mansour; her grandchildren, Amy Ellis (David), Brent Mansour (Shai), Sydney Arthur and Austin Mansour (Savannah); her great granddaughters, Eleanor and Atalie Mansour; her siblings, Martha Timms, June Satterwhite, Bobby Green, Nina Samples-Stanley, and Elsie Healy (Joe), and many beloved relatives, neighbors, and friends.

Please help us celebrate Rosa’s life, and new eternal life, together from 1:00-2:00pm Saturday, March 14th, 2026 at R. Dudley Barton & Son Funeral Home in Adairsville, GA. A service will follow at 2:00pm with Pastor Jim Pinkard officiating. Interment will take place at Oaknoll Memorial Gardens in Rome, GA at a later date.

We would like to extend our warmest gratitude to the Amedisys Hospice team who provided our beloved mother and Gran with care and respect during her final months.

Rosa will be remembered for the way she provided everyone she met with a warm smile, an easy laugh, and delicious victuals.