Mrs. Rosa; beloved wife of Wayman Riles; dear mother of Ruth Sugges; dear sister of Mrs. Lula Garcia, Mrs. Ruth Arnold, Mr. Carl Washington; also survived by other relatives; residence 877 Lincoln Park Dr., Apt. C; Wednesday, December 17, 1969.In state, Friday, at the McKenzie Funeral Home, 59 Erkenbrecher Ave., from 6 to 9 p.m.Funeral service, Saturday, 10 a.m., St. John AME Zion Church, 425 Fourth Ave., Rev. A. L. Fuller officiating.Interment, Red Oak Cemetery; Ripley, Ohio.(Published: The Cincinnati Enquirer [Cincinnati, OH] Thu., 18 Dec 1969, page: 49, col. 7)
Obit provided by Contributor: Bill & Pamela Dyess, # 48365905
~
Folk Figure. Born Rosa Washington Riles in Red Oak, Ohio, she was the third popular symbol for the Quaker Oats Company's Aunt Jemima Pancake and Syrup products. Recruited in the 1930s, she traveled around the country making public appearances playing Aunt Jemima until 1948.
Inducted into Brown County Historical Hall of Fame in October 2023.
Rosa Washington Riles (March 1, 1901 – December 17, 1969) was born in Red Oak, Ohio. All four of her grandparents had been slaves. In the 1930's she was hired as a cook for a Quaker Oats executive. Because of her wonderful personality and smiling face, not to mention her excellent abilities as a cook, she was hired as the third Aunt Jemima marketing character in the mid-1940s and continued her portrayal until the 1960s. She did pancake cooking demonstrations locally and across the country. Rosa died in New Orleans, but she was brought home and is buried in the Red Oak Presbyterian Cemetery. She was always proud of her role as Aunt Jemima. An image of her as Aunt Jemima adorns her headstone.
~ Courtesy of The Ripley Bee
Obit provided by Contributor: Bill & Pamela Dyess, # 48365905
~
Folk Figure. Born Rosa Washington Riles in Red Oak, Ohio, she was the third popular symbol for the Quaker Oats Company's Aunt Jemima Pancake and Syrup products. Recruited in the 1930s, she traveled around the country making public appearances playing Aunt Jemima until 1948.
Inducted into Brown County Historical Hall of Fame in October 2023.
Rosa Washington Riles (March 1, 1901 – December 17, 1969) was born in Red Oak, Ohio. All four of her grandparents had been slaves. In the 1930's she was hired as a cook for a Quaker Oats executive. Because of her wonderful personality and smiling face, not to mention her excellent abilities as a cook, she was hired as the third Aunt Jemima marketing character in the mid-1940s and continued her portrayal until the 1960s. She did pancake cooking demonstrations locally and across the country. Rosa died in New Orleans, but she was brought home and is buried in the Red Oak Presbyterian Cemetery. She was always proud of her role as Aunt Jemima. An image of her as Aunt Jemima adorns her headstone.
~ Courtesy of The Ripley Bee
Mrs. Rosa; beloved wife of Wayman Riles; dear mother of Ruth Sugges; dear sister of Mrs. Lula Garcia, Mrs. Ruth Arnold, Mr. Carl Washington; also survived by other relatives; residence 877 Lincoln Park Dr., Apt. C; Wednesday, December 17, 1969.In state, Friday, at the McKenzie Funeral Home, 59 Erkenbrecher Ave., from 6 to 9 p.m.Funeral service, Saturday, 10 a.m., St. John AME Zion Church, 425 Fourth Ave., Rev. A. L. Fuller officiating.Interment, Red Oak Cemetery; Ripley, Ohio.(Published: The Cincinnati Enquirer [Cincinnati, OH] Thu., 18 Dec 1969, page: 49, col. 7)
Obit provided by Contributor: Bill & Pamela Dyess, # 48365905
~
Folk Figure. Born Rosa Washington Riles in Red Oak, Ohio, she was the third popular symbol for the Quaker Oats Company's Aunt Jemima Pancake and Syrup products. Recruited in the 1930s, she traveled around the country making public appearances playing Aunt Jemima until 1948.
Inducted into Brown County Historical Hall of Fame in October 2023.
Rosa Washington Riles (March 1, 1901 – December 17, 1969) was born in Red Oak, Ohio. All four of her grandparents had been slaves. In the 1930's she was hired as a cook for a Quaker Oats executive. Because of her wonderful personality and smiling face, not to mention her excellent abilities as a cook, she was hired as the third Aunt Jemima marketing character in the mid-1940s and continued her portrayal until the 1960s. She did pancake cooking demonstrations locally and across the country. Rosa died in New Orleans, but she was brought home and is buried in the Red Oak Presbyterian Cemetery. She was always proud of her role as Aunt Jemima. An image of her as Aunt Jemima adorns her headstone.
~ Courtesy of The Ripley Bee
Obit provided by Contributor: Bill & Pamela Dyess, # 48365905
~
Folk Figure. Born Rosa Washington Riles in Red Oak, Ohio, she was the third popular symbol for the Quaker Oats Company's Aunt Jemima Pancake and Syrup products. Recruited in the 1930s, she traveled around the country making public appearances playing Aunt Jemima until 1948.
Inducted into Brown County Historical Hall of Fame in October 2023.
Rosa Washington Riles (March 1, 1901 – December 17, 1969) was born in Red Oak, Ohio. All four of her grandparents had been slaves. In the 1930's she was hired as a cook for a Quaker Oats executive. Because of her wonderful personality and smiling face, not to mention her excellent abilities as a cook, she was hired as the third Aunt Jemima marketing character in the mid-1940s and continued her portrayal until the 1960s. She did pancake cooking demonstrations locally and across the country. Rosa died in New Orleans, but she was brought home and is buried in the Red Oak Presbyterian Cemetery. She was always proud of her role as Aunt Jemima. An image of her as Aunt Jemima adorns her headstone.
~ Courtesy of The Ripley Bee
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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