Rosa Lee Buckley

1931 - 2021  (90 years)

• Name	Rosa Lee Buckley  [1, 2, 3]
  Birth	21 Feb 1931	Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas   [1, 2, 3]
  Gender	Female
  Death	31 Dec 2021
  Notes	Rosa Lee Walker Rosa Lee Walker, 90, crossed over peacefully on December 31, 2021 and this is her amazing story. Rosa was born in Hemphill, Texas in 1931 to Dewey and Eva Buckley (both deceased). She graduated from Pineland High School in 1947 and hit the road to the big city of Houston where she began her career at Southwestern Bell. She immediately joined the Communication Workers of America, which would set the stage for the rest of her life's work. She soon became a full-time union organizer and then went to work for the Harris County AFL-CIO and eventually, the Texas AFL-CIO in Austin in 1965. Rosa was a force to be reckoned with in life, and in the labor movement. She fought tirelessly for equal rights and fair pay for all working people. She was caring, compassionate and a bulldog with a passion when it came to fighting for working class people. Rosa was a leading figure in the labor movement in the 50's and early 60's when it was predominately a 'man's world'. She stood and fought arm in arm with workers in hard fought and often dangerous fights to organize unions and win fair pay and safe working conditions. Rosa's many accomplishments included: induction into both the Texas AFL CIO Labor Hall of Fame and the Texas Women's Hall of Fame; founding member of the National Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW); Vice President of Texas Coalition of Labor Union Women; long time elected member of the Democratic National Committee; member of the Texas Judicial Conduct Commission; founder of the Texas Consumer Association; member of the Red Cross Midwestern Advisory Board; and recognitions by resolution of the Texas House of Representatives, Texas Senate and the Congress of the United States. She was also a key force behind the Texas Democratic Women, and was a lifelong member of the Capitol Area Democratic Women. Rosa also served people, especially union members, in need across the state. She coordinated disaster relief operations with the Red Cross in hurricanes, tornados, floods, and plane crashes and worked on site tirelessly until everyone was clothed, fed, had a place to stay and received some assistance to get back on their feet. Rosa went into disaster areas before power, phones and even windows in hotels were replaced, knowing workers needed help to get their families settled, get back to work, and replace valuable items such as medications. Rosa was a legendary figure in the Texas Labor movement and earned the respect of law makers, politicians, and the working people of Texas regardless of political affiliation. Rosa was a mentor to many men and women in the labor movement and elected officials at every level of government. She was particularly an inspiration and mentor to union women, and created pathways for women to lead across the state. Rosa routinely received calls for advice, and made calls to praise or admonish individuals as the situation dictated. (You did not want to be the subject of the latter). Rosa's advice was never sugar coated, but you knew it was given for the recipient's best interest or the best interest of the community or group. Rosa gave respect and earned respect of many as a result. Rosa believed every election was important - from school board to the President of the United States of America. She spearheaded voter registration drives, protest marches, peaceful civil disobedience and conducted training for activists and workers alike. Rosa Walker was frequently asked to be a speaker at functions, and always well received. In short, Rosa Walker was a pioneering labor leader and feminist, ahead of her time and leading the way. She made a difference for the better for all working people. Rosa is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Boyce Breedlove; sisters, Annie Nipper, Lucille Miller and Velma Westmoreland; and brother, T.J. Buckley. She is survived by her loving daughter and care taker of many years, Debbie Jennings of Austin; sister, Mary Townsend of Nacogdoches and many nieces and nephews who she loved. Her daughter would like to give a heartfelt thanks to Heart-to-Heart Hospice Care in Austin. They were all amazing and especially to her nurse Diana who was a rock to lean on in her final days. Due to the pandemic, there will be no services. A private graveside was held at Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to Hospice, the food bank in your area or the Texas AFL-CIO scholarship fund (PO. 12727, Austin, TX 78711). Downloaded From the Austin American Statesmant online A similar biography was on the front page of The Sabine County Reporter, January 12, 2022, titled "Sabine County loses local legacy on New Year's Eve; What a life!"
  Person ID	I42378	Strong Family Tree
  Last Modified	19 Nov 2022

  
  

  Father	John Dewey Buckley,   b. 12 Mar 1899, DeSoto Parish, Louisiana d. 15 Jan 1955, Pasedena, Harris County, Texas (Age 55 years)
  Mother	Eva "Evie" Josephine Craig,   b. Apr 1898, Texas d. 14 Jan 1974, Austin, Travis County, Texas (Age 75 years)
  Marriage	Bef 1919
  Family ID	F12676	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 21 Feb 1931 - Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Sources

  [S266] Ancestry.com - Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997 [database online], (Ancestry.com Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Original data: Texas. Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997. Texas: Texas Department of State Health Services. Microfiche.). [S1299] 1940 United States Federal Census [Ancestry.com. database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012, (Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls.), Census Place: , Sabine, Texas; Roll: T627_4132; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 202-3. (Reliability: 3). [S1111] FamilySearch.org, Texas Birth Certificates, 1903-1935.