Rosalyn P Little

Rosalyn Patricia Little was born on February 28, 1958, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After an intense illness, her body was made whole as she transitioned peacefully into eternity on October 8, 2022, in New Brunswick, NJ. She was the oldest child of Vernell Jenkins and her deceased bonus dad, Tillman Jenkins.

She was educated in the public school system of Columbus County North Carolina, where she graduated from West Columbus High School. Rosalyn attended college for two years, ultimately putting those plans on pause to care for her growing family. Despite the pause, education be it formal or informal, was quite important to her.

Rosalyn’s fighting spirit would show up in many ways. She fought generational patterns, working hard so her children and future generations had opportunities that she didn’t have.  She fought illness, many times, over multiple years, and never wavered. Her illnesses made her keenly aware of her mortality, but she never let them define her. And she fought whatever life threw her way with quick wit searing facial expressions, and fierce charm. With family and friends gathered laughter and joy were never far behind. Rosalyn would often be in the mix exchanging quippy one-liners making most laugh—a few cringe—and it always came from a place of authentic love.

Those that will cherish Rosalyn’s memories and further her legacy are her mother Vernell Jenkins of Roxbury, MA; two daughters Tabitha Lee  (Caleb) of Garner, NC; Michele Lee of Tyler, TX; and one son, Chinor Lee (Cynthia) of Somerset, NJ; five siblings, Terrace Jenkins (Lillian), Lynwood Jenkins, Michael Jenkins, Rochelle Bostick, and Teila Ritter; a cousin/sister Vernessia Stephens (Doug); longtime companion Jeffrey Cruse; six grandchildren, Aja Baldwin, Chinor Lee, II, Zacharias Lee, Cayla Harding, Ariyah Green, and Immanuel Lee; one great-grandchild Ian Baldwin; and countless family members including nieces, nephews, cousins, Godchildren, Grand-Godchildren, & friends. 

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Sister2Sister supporting Breast Cancer Survivors www.s2scnj.org.