Rosenita D. Proctor

Rosenita “Neat” Proctor passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on Sunday, October 30, 2022. She was 77 years old. Rosenita was born on June 30, 1945 to her parents, Naomi (Starks) Whiting and J.C. Whiting in Montgomery, Alabama. She loved the Lord with all of her heart and soul and was definitely a servant of the Lord.

Neat lived a very active life, volunteering with community programs throughout the Columbus area, such as the Columbus Black Women’s Health Project (CBWHP) and the annual Martin Luther King Breakfast and March. She was a community activist that participated in the process of integrating the Columbus City Police Department. She also served as the First African American female to model wedding dresses which gave her the opportunity to start her own modeling agency called Utukufu which means glory in Kiswahili.

Neat truly valued education and believed that you were never too old to achieve your dreams. She loved teaching and learning, as well as writing and reading novels. Reading was one of her passions. So, at age 55, she graduated Cum Laude from Wilberforce University earning her Bachelors of Science Degree. She was a true demonstration to young people of what can happen when you persevere. She was a trailblazer for mentoring and helping others believe in themselves as she had an uncanny ability to reach people (especially young people) in a deep and positive way.

When Neat worked for Kelly Temporary Services, she was responsible for advocating that the company implement policies to give men and women who were formerly incarcerated a second chance in life by securing employment. So, because of Neat, Kelly Temporary Services was one of the first companies to implement such a policy. She loved all mankind and believed that everyone should have a second chance in life. After 23 years of service, Neat retired from the Columbus Public Health Department Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

As a member of Heritage Christian Church, Neat served as a Sunday school teacher and greeter. Her greeting words were always, “Welcome to Our Father’s House!” She is probably using those same words as she is now welcoming others into heaven.

Neat loved her family. She loved to cook. And everyone loved her cooking. She was a loving and devout wife (and loved being a minister’s wife). She was a wonderful and dedicated mother, grandmother, sister, auntie, cousin and friend. We will truly miss her beauty, her strong spirit, her wit, her patience, goodness and faithfulness. Neat was known to“speak her mind” against any injustice against her family, friends and co-workers and was known to “win the battle” on behalf of others.

She was preceded in death by her father, J.C. Whiting and her mother, Naomi (Starks) Whiting; sisters, Martha Whiting, Joyce Gulley, and Myrtice Gray; brothers, Wilbert and Ronald Whiting; and grandson Juno Chandler.

She leaves to Cherish her memories a very devoted, loving and caring husband of 42 years, Reverend Harry W. Proctor; children, Clyde E. Haynie, Tina Ferguson (James) and Kim Proctor; brother, John C. Whiting (Audrey); grandchildren, Jordan Perry, Naomi Proctor, Victoria Proctor, and Cardell Chandler; two great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.

“We know that we can’t have you, but we’re happy knowing that the angels have finally got you back. Our family salutes a beautiful woman in Christ!”

Visitation 10:00 AM and Funeral Service 11:00 AM Tuesday, November 15, 2022 at MARLAN J. GARY FUNERAL HOME, THE CHAPEL OF PEACE EAST, 5456 E. Livingston Ave. (one block east of Noe Bixby, turn North on Lonsdale Rd.). Interment at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. To stream the service, read the complete obituary, order flowers, view video tribute and offer condolences to the Proctor Family, visit www.TheChapelofPeace.com