Rosemary Legette Cleveland

Rosemary Legette, the eldest child of the late Bishop Roosevelt Legette, Sr. and Mother Ruth Davis-Legette was born on Saturday, November 8th, 1947, in Marion, SC, and slept away peacefully on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of faith, service and an unwavering commitment to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Rosie, as she was affectionately called, was educated in the Chester-Upland School District. While in high school she met and later married her “High School Sweetheart,” the late Grover Cleveland, Sr., whom she affectionally called “Clean.” From this union, God blessed them with six children, Angela (Angel), Grover, Jr. (Junie), Felicia (Fatty), Anissa (Kitty), Jeremiah (Jerry), and Alicia (Lil Rosemary). She spoiled her children like no other! She poured into them the importance of education and each of them attended a private school during most of their education as well as instilling the Word of God in them. She made sure her entire household was covered by gathering her family at 6AM daily for prayer. She and Clean made sure they took their children on vacation every year, continuing to instill family values in them. They would even take other people’s children with them! When her grands were on the way, she was there to welcome them into the world and prayed over each one. She felt that all children should learn about God. She would pick up the children who wanted to come to church because the parents always had excuses, so she figured out a way for the excuses to be invalid. Rosie had a passion for teaching, cooking, jigsaw puzzles, jogging, singing, doing hair and her private day care. (Lord, did she love those children) She cared and loved them so much so, none of them wanted to go home when their parents came to pick them up. She was also a second mom to her siblings and had a unique relationship with each of them. Talking about cooking and baking, she could do that with her eyes closed. Some of those culinary delights were potato salad, mac & cheese, fish, banana pudding, lemon cake and sweet potato pies. She would even take the time to show the young ladies who wanted to learn to cook how to prepare any meal so that their husband could enjoy the meal. She accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior early in life and was called into the ministry in the early nineties, continuing her Ministerial Training with the Jameson Schools of Ministry and Theology, receiving her Bachelor of Science in Theology. Rev. Rosemary Legette-Cleveland loved The Word of God! In the words of her brother-in-love, THAT GIRL CAN TELL THE STORY! And tell the story, she did! She took a stance of “I do not care if I have to preach from the pew, I’m going to preach!” Rev. Cleveland was a faithful and devoted member of New Bethel C.O.G.I.C. She was a God-fearing, praying, and generous woman, who took care of anyone in need regardless of who they were, what color they were or where they came from. She always had a word of encouragement to make you feel better and want to do better because of her compassion for people. Rev. Cleveland believed in the power of prayer. She would always say, if God said it, it’s going to happen. People would call from miles around seeking her out for prayer. She proved to be a true and faithful servant of God, by the life she lived as a dedicated, obedient, trustworthy servant who was always available when called upon to do the Will of God! Rev. Cleveland was sought after to preach at revivals in many of the 50 states. She was blessed to be chosen to go to the Holy Land in Jerusalem back in 1987. During her time at New Bethel, she served as Associate Minister, Sunday School Teacher, Tuesday Night Prayer Warrior, Pianist, Choir Member, President of the Young Women’s Christian Council, founding member of the Gospel Group (The Shades of Glory) and the Kitchen Committee with her momma, the late Ruth Davis-Legette. Special thanks to her daughter, Felicia Cleveland-Dean, who was very devoted and the primary caregiver. Special thanks to her daughter & son-n-love, Michael and Anissa Cleveland-Johnson who made sure whatever was needed was provided. Special thanks with great appreciation to one of the Lead and dedicated CNA’s, Vernique English and to Rev. Cleveland’s special church friend, Evangelist Elizabeth Womack. An incredibly special thank you to her oldest son-in-love Jeffrey Dean, Sr., for standing by Felicia’s side with no complaints as she took care of Mom, making sure nothing went awry. Rosie was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 48 years, Grover Cleveland, Sr., her son, Grover Cleveland, Jr., two daughters, Angela Cleveland-O’Neal and Alicia Cleveland-Tillery, 2 grandsons, Walter Tillery and Mordecai Johnson, her parents, Bishop Roosevelt Legette, Sr. and Mother Ruth Davis-Legette, and two sisters: Pearline Legette-Craig and Ruth Legette-Harper. She leaves to cherish her memories, daughters: Felicia Cleveland-Dean (Jeffrey, Sr.) Elkton, MD., Anissa Cleveland-Johnson (Pastor Dr. Michael) Houston, TX, son: Bishop Jeremiah Cleveland (Pandora), Richmond, VA and son-in-love: Damon Tillery, Chester, PA.,17 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, sisters: Verna Legette-Purvis, Rev. Shirley Legette-Owens (Pastor Emeritus Herbert, Sr.) and Hazel Legette, brothers: Keever Crawford (Angie) and Pastor Roosevelt Legette, Jr. (Lisa), Aunts: Mamie Davis-Legette and Chestina Legette-Freeman, sister-n-love Rebecca Cleveland-Rambert, brother-in-love Arthur Cleveland, 4 God children, along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, church families and friends.

Rosemary Legette Cleveland

November 8, 1947 - February 24, 2026