Rosa Lee Preskitt

On the morning of March 27, 2025, Rosa Lee Cox Preskitt entered the gates of Heaven where she was met by Jesus, her husband, her daughter, her grandson, and all her other loved ones who passed before her.

A funeral service is planned for Sunday, March 30, beginning at 3:00 P.M at Hancock Funeral Home, 427 South Lee Street. The family will receive friends on Sunday before the service between the hours of 2:00 and 3:00pm.

Rosa Preskitt was born November 7, 1933, in Americus, GA to the late Thomas Matthew Cox and the late Laura Emma Fullbright Cox. She was the seventh born of the eight Cox children.

On October 15, 1952, Rosa married the love of her life, Paul Ernest Preskitt, who she referred to as Ernest. They had four children--Victoria Rose, Paula Gayle, Stephen Ernest, and Janet Diane. She was the wife of an Army soldier and had to often raise their four children while he proudly served our country. They were stationed at numerous military bases to include Fort Bragg, Fort Rucker, Fort Benning, Goppingen, Germany, and Ulm, Germany. Americus was always home though.

Rosa worked in the early 1950s as an operator at Southern Bell in Americus. She was then a housewife until 1968 when she began working at The Fair Store in Americus in order to keep her mind occupied as her husband served a tour of duty in Vietnam. She enjoyed working with the public, so she continued to work at The Fair Store for several years after her husband returned home and retired from the military.

Over the years, Rosa and Ernest were blessed with five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. She loved to spend time with her family and making memories. Some special times included birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even family fish fries.

Rosa was a devoted Christian and was a member of the First Christian Church in Americus. She enjoyed singing hymns with the ladies before Sunday school.

While her health allowed, Rosa enjoyed planting flowers. Some of her favorites were zinnias, pansies, marigolds, petunias, and sunflowers. She would also spend time feeding the birds and hummingbirds so she could watch them each day.

Rosa and Ernest also enjoyed day trips where they would ride back roads of Georgia to take in all the scenery. She would take pictures of their adventures to share later with the family.

Rosa always had a love for animals. From the time of her having children until her later years, there was always a fur-baby in the Preskitt home. She would even feed stray cats and dogs and lay out a blanket for it to lay on.

In addition to her parents, Rosa Preskitt was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Paul Preskitt; her daughter, Victoria Rose Preskitt Welch; a grandson, Thomas Matthew Castleberry, and his wife, Farrah Johnson Castleberry; and siblings, Sally Burroughs, Martha Garrett, Gus Cox, Alma Camp, and Rena Deriso.

Survivors include son, Stephen Preskitt (Cindy); daughters: Paula Preskitt Hanks (Charles) and Jan Preskitt Parker (Gary); grandchildren: Mandi Castleberry Bass (Robert Graham), Stephanie Preskitt Grimes (Shaun), Laura Leigh Bell (Cecil), and Bryan Parker (Jaime); great-grandchildren: London Bass (Skyla), Ashlyn Bass, Preskitt Castleberry, Bella Parker, Zoe Bell, and Cole Bell; great-great-grandson Kolton Preskitt Bass; her sister, Dorothy Barnette; her brother, Jack Cox; and several nieces and nephews.

For those wishing to do so, memorial contributions may be made to the Sumter Humane Society, 108 Industrial Blvd., Americus, GA 31719.

To sign our online guestbook and express your condolences to the family, please visit www.hancockfuneralhomeinc.com

Hancock Funeral Home, 427 S. Lee St., is honored to be entrusted with these arrangements for Rosa Lee Cox Preskitt.