Rosa Lee Jackson

Rosa Lee Jackson, age 88, of Lexington, SC, passed away from injuries sustained during a fall the previous month. Born in the upstate region, she spent part of her childhood living with her grandparents to allow both of her parents to find work. She learned about hard work ethics and the importance of family at a young age, and she developed a fierce determination to make a good life for herself and those around her.

As a mother, she set a great example of how her five girls were supposed to grow up. She was strong, independent, loving, protective, worked hard to make a good home for her family, and did everything she could to instill those very same qualities in her children.

As a woman, she was formidable. She had an unstoppable drive that gave her the strength to reach for the goals she set for herself as a young girl and, yet, a heart big enough to help others along the way.

As a businesswoman, she was nothing short of awesome. In 1960, Rosa attended Style Right Beauty School in Greenville, SC. With five children at home, she had to be creative in her work endeavors. She opened her first licensed beauty salon in the renovated garage of her own home. After moving to Columbia, SC, she took over the management of Columbia School of Cosmetic Arts in 1967. Within a short period of time, she began attending night school to get her GED, and then completed a Methods of Teaching program to become a licensed cosmetology instructor. Soon after, she purchased the Columbia School of Cosmetic Arts and changed the name to Columbia Beauty School, Inc., for which she was the owner and acting director until her retirement in 2005. She had taken a small school that was losing money and turned it into a successful, thriving business. Over the years, she also owned and successfully oversaw the management of three other salons.

Rosa was a member of the National Cosmetology Association and regularly attended continuing education classes to better her knowledge and skills, both locally and abroad. In 1976, she began attending workshops and training classes that would allow her school to attain accreditation through the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences, which she maintained for her school until she retired. She was an active and involved member in the South Carolina Association of Cosmetology Schools, holding many of the Officer and Board of Directors positions throughout her tenure. When the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation began requiring that all licensed cosmetologists take continuing education courses to renew their licenses, Columbia Beauty School was one of the first schools in the state to offer such classes to other professionals. Also, she allowed the owners and educators of Stroman Beauty Supply to teach educational classes from her school in order to successfully launch their Nexxus hair products, and her school was one of the first to hold educational classes for the Goldwell Color line when it was introduced by Jackson Beauty Supply into the southeastern United States from Germany.

Over her 45-year career, she accomplished so many different things. But, if she were here today, she would not mention any of them. She never understood how many lives she touched, not only physically with her hands and the artistic talent she had as a hairdresser, but also figuratively. There have literally been thousands of people to pass through the doors of her school and salons; some as clients, some as students, and some as other professionals in the industry. There is not one person that entered those doors who did not leave changed in some small way because of something she did, something she said, something she taught them, something she made them do that they did not want to do, or some way that she made them feel. She helped empower so many people with the knowledge and skills needed to follow a path of their own to a better life; not only cosmetology skills but life skills that, if applied, would make anyone a better person.

Rosa firmly believed that you were supposed to look your best, and rare was the day that anyone ever saw her without her hair teased and in place. She was bossy, and she minded everyone’s business to her last days. We all know she is now in heaven, doing the same thing (again) to those who have passed on before. God will hold her in his Mighty Hand and just as sure, he might wonder if he should have taken her from this Earth so soon! She will be loved and missed by all who knew her.

Rosa is survived by her partner of twenty years, Joseph “Buddy” Brock; her daughters, Debra Young Montondo, Mona Lisa Beaty and Gloria Lee Smith. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren. Still living in her immediate family are her sister, Terry Eller and brother, Steve Rutledge, along with four nephews and their families. She is predeceased by both her husbands, Bud Young, Jr. and Charles “Ray” Jackson, as well as her daughters, Elaine Young Rich and Loretta Young Love and their spouses; brother, Frank Sr. and nephew, Frank, Jr.

Services will be held Thursday, October 6, 2022 at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home in Lexington, South Carolina. Visitation will be from 12:00 - 1:00 pm, with the service to follow immediately in the on-site chapel. Her final resting place will be at Southland Memorial Gardens.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org or the Shriners Hospitals for Children at www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.caughmanlexington.com for the Jackson family.