Nell Rose

Nell Rose (Mary Ellen Meador Rose), age 82 of Reidsville, passed away peacefully at Annie Penn Hospital on September 4, 2025 surrounded by family and friends.

Nell, a 1961 graduate of Wentworth High School, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from UNCG in 1965. She earned Masters in Interior Design and then a Masters in Early Childhood Education from UNCG.  Bill and Nell moved to Charlotte in 1966 where she worked at the Agriculture Extension Office and then as an instructor at Central Piedmont Community College.  

After her four children were born, she worked part-time and was instrumental in establishing the open education program at Irwin Elementary School.  She regularly put her home economics degree to work – managing the household finances, planning the vegetable garden that took up the whole front yard of her suburban home, canning and freezing the vegetables and each night preparing a home cooked hot meal for her family including at least three fresh vegetables each night.

Nell’s unwavering advocacy for education touched countless lives – through her own children first, and then through her ten years as a permanent volunteer with Charlotte’s Piedmont Open Middle School, where her children attended. She worked even through the summers creating course schedules, developing and test-driving bus routes across the whole city, staffing the main office, faithfully arriving early before the first students of the day and leaving alongside the very last.  She was the first in our community to welcome displaced families from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. In uncommon selflessness, but common for her, Nell would bridge the communication gap by drawing pictures of houses and buses to assure the families understand where the bus would pick up the new students.

Her love for kids and education continued when she returned to Rockingham County. In 1993, she joined the county school board and was one of the first members of the combined county-wide school system. In 2008, Nell was selected as school board chair and served in that capacity until 2016. She was most known for being “everywhere” -- the Science Fair, cross country meet, play, choral performance – all in one day. She was tireless in her efforts to serve the kids and families of Rockingham County and in 2018 she was named to the Order of the Long Leaf Pine for her service.

In addition to her extensive tenure as a Rockingham County Board of Education member, she engaged in countless hours of service to our community which included volunteering for school functions such as staff luncheons, assisting with prom breakfasts, reading to students, chaperoning field trips, proctoring end of course tests, judging both science and senior projects, helping with cultural arts events, and assisting with Thanksgiving dinner at Bethlehem Church. Since 2010, she served as a judge for the National Magna Awards for the North Carolina School Board Association in Washington, DC. In recognition of her tireless devotion, she received the Governor's Award for Volunteer Service and was selected as an All State Board Member by the North Carolina School Board Association. Further, she served the community through Delta Kappa Gamma (service organization for educators), Rockingham County Foster Care Review Team, Rockingham County Partnership for Children, and as a member of the Board of Directors for North Carolina Partnership for Children. Her efforts left a permanent and lasting positive legacy for the schools, teachers, staff, and students of North Carolina, but most especially those in Rockingham County.

Nell, always remembered as a loving and caring wife, mom, and grandma. Preceded in death by her parents, James and Elizabeth Meador, Nell’s survivors include: husband, Bill Rose, son, Tommy Rose and wife, Jone, of Broadway, daughter, Noralea Meiki Rose and husband, Scott, of Cameron, daughter, Laura Rose and husband, Arnd, of Wegberg, Germany and daughter, Catherine Rose of Reidsville. She leaves behind 14 creative, energetic and resilient grandchildren.  Nell is survived by her siblings:   James S. (Jimmy) Meador, Joann (Jo) McCollum, Robert (Bob) Meador and Katherine (Winky) Somers, all of Reidsville.

Memorial Services will be conducted 1:00 PM, Saturday, September 13, 2025 at Reidsville High School, Reidsville, NC. The Memorial Service will be live streamed on Rockingham Update, on their Facebook and YouTube pages as well as cittyfh.com.  Visitation will follow the ceremony.

The family will also see friends 5:00 till 8:00 PM Friday September 12, 2025 at Woodmont United Methodist Church 1926 Richardson Dr. Reidsville, NC

Memorial gifts would be welcomed in lieu of flowers by the Rockingham County Partnership for Children, Inc., PO Box 325, Wentworth, NC 27375-0325. Online condolences may be sent to www.cittyfh.com

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