Riley 1939 Rosemary (Sanders) Henry

March 26, 1921 - Jan. 14, 2017

Condolences

SOUTH BEND - Rosemary Sanders was born on 03/26/1921 in Chicago, IL. After the age of 5 Rosemary moved to South Bend with her parents Rolley and Helen Sanders. In her early years she loved music and became involved with learning how to play the violin so well that she began private lessons at Chicago Sherwood School of Music. She played in the Riley High School Orchestra graduating in 1939 and later auditioned for and was accepted by the South Bend Symphony Orchestra. She loved playing in the symphony and she began to teach other students privately. She was a member of St. John Missionary Baptist Church many years ago of which her parents were foundling members. Rosemary loved the Lord and made sure she attended church regularly. Later she married Graham Henry Sr. of Old Harbor Bay, Jamaica, West Indies. From this marriage 2 children survive, Graham M. Henry (Muriel) and Helen Jean Henry Ursery (Roy fiance). Grandchildren are Michael K. Blanchard (Tamara); Graham Henry III; Christina Henry Martin (Dexter); Isaiah Javiar Henry; Graham Henry IV (Alexis); Orion Henry, William M. Johnson (Eleana); Hillarhry J. Johnson; Kelley D. Blount. She has over 16 great-grandchildren both locally and in other areas of Indiana, and a host of relatives and friends that shall remember her. The family would like to thank the Center for Hospice Care (Maralee and Kathy) for their compassionate care and St. Paul's Retirement Community (Amanda and Simon) where she resided for the past 14 years.

Funeral services will be held at Berrien Seventh Day Adventist Church at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 22, 2017. Viewing will occur at the church from 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Humbly submitted by her children: Graham M. Henry Jr. and Helen J. Henry Ursery RN BSN, currently a hospice nurse with Center for Hospice Care in South Bend.

Arrangements entrusted to ALFORD'S MORTUARY.

Visit our website to sign family guestbook at: www.AlfordsMortuaryInc.com.

Published in South Bend Tribune on Jan. 20, 2017

- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/southbendtribune/obituary.aspx?n=rosemary-sanders&pid=183658340&fhid=8823&eid=sp_ommatch#sthash.B9mxr8RB.dpuf

                     THE SOUTH BEND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

For many years, the South Bend Symphony Orchestra (SBSO) has entertained the citizens of this city with musical performances, both classical and popular in nature. In its humble beginnings, the orchestra was a volunteer organization led by Edwyn H. Hames, who served as music director for 40 years. In 1935, Ella M. Morris formed a fundraising committee, later to become the first Board of Directors, to help better organize the burgeoning musical group.

One of the many interesting stories that can be told about the organization’s history is that of Rosemary Sanders, an important but relatively unsung part of SBSO’s legacy. Sanders was born on March 26, 1920, and in the early 1940s, she became the first African American to play for the SBSO. Her mother, Helen Sanders, was employed as the head maid for the Cunningham household. Charles and Gertrude Oliver Cunningham, daughter of local industrialist J.D. Oliver, lived at 630 W. Washington St., in what is now the Oliver Inn Bed & Breakfast.

From an early age, Sanders had a love of music. She played in the Riley High School Orchestra. Her dreams of becoming a violinist were fostered by the Cunninghams, who bought her a Stradivarius violin when she was a little girl. Sanders received further musical training at the Chicago Sherwood School of Music before joining South Bend’s orchestra under the directorship of Harold Lamb. In addition to her career, Sanders had two children.

In this 1938 Christmas card, a young Rosemary Sanders poses with her violin. The following year she would graduate from Riley High School.

03/30/2023 DEC