Rosalie M. Lanham

Rosalie M. Lanham, 84, of Springfield passed gently into the morn on March 31, 2008 at Oak Terrace Nursing Home. Rosalie was born April 19, 1923 in Bloomington, IL. She was the daughter of Geneva and David Whitaker. Rosalie worked at the Granite City Depot during the war. After the war she moved to Troy, IL where she opened the first of two women's ready to wear stores. The second was opened in Highland, IL. After closing those stores she went to work as a buyer of designer clothes at Styx Baer and Fuller, which is now known as Dillards. Upon retirement she moved to the Springfield area where she met and married James Lanham. Together they founded the Sojourn Thrift Store. Because of their fund raising efforts the Sojourn House, a shelter for victims of domestic abuse, was dedicated to them. Rosalie was active in numerous organizations and received many awards for her humanitarian efforts. Some of her awards of which she was most proud were the J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award and Illinois State Medical Association's Humanitarian Award. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Lanham. She is survived by two daughters from her marriage to John H. Petri, Jr., Nancy Gibson of O'Fallon and Elizabeth (husband, Charles) Zalar of Springfield; three stepchildren from her marriage to James Lanham, James Jr. (wife, Leslie) Lanham of Las Vegas, Rob (wife, Barb) Lanham and Janet (husband, Bob) Collins both of Springfield; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; two sisters, Marge Waggoner and Betty Ridgeway of Granite City; and numerous nieces and nephews. Cremation was accorded by Butler Cremation Tribute Center. Ceremonies will be private Memorial contributions may be made to: Alzheimer's Association, Greater Illinois Chapter, Springfield Office, 6 Drawbridge Rd., Ste. 4, Springfield, IL 62704, or to: Sojourn Shelter and Service, 1800 Westchester Blvd., Springfield, IL 62708. The family of Rosalie Lanham is being served by Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home and Cremation Tribute Center, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield, IL.