Rose Marie Stutts

Rose Marie Stutts, EdD, age 73, of Queen City Ave, Tuscaloosa, Alabama passed away on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 of COVID and long term illness. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, March 19, 2022 at The District Room, 551 20th Ave, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, (205) 469-1655, 1 PM - 3 PM. The family is also providing a Zoom Meeting of the celebration.

Rose Marie was born October 14, 1948 in Birmingham, Ala. She is preceded in death by her parents: James C Stutts and Rose Lanza Stutts. She is survived by her brother, Stevie R Stutts, Sr and Vicki Stutts (wife) of Birmingham AL; her sister, Anita Stutts Bolton and Buzz Bolton (husband) of Franklin Tenn; and sister Kricket Stutts and Donna McBride (wife) of St. Petersburg Fla; Nephew, Stevie R Stutts Jr, of Dallas, Tx; Niece, Lacy Stutts Scott and Ashley Scott (husband) of Birmingham, AL; Niece Felice Bolton of Gallatin, Tenn; and Nephew Karl Bolton of Nashville, Tenn.

Rose Marie completed her Bachelor of Science Degree from The University of Montevallo. She then moved to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to complete a Masters Degree in Education, and in 1990 completed her Doctorate in Education. In November 2013, she was awarded the winner of the Hometown Hero award by WVUA 23 for her director position with Freedom Chess Academy, a charity started by Dr. Stutts in 2010. The purpose of the charity was to teach chess to elementary and middle school students at local area schools and the local YMCA's. In March 2010, The University of Alabama joined with Dr. Stutts to form a collaboration between UA Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility and Freedom Chess Academy with a goal of providing a class to the students at UA to learn to teach children the positive role chess can play in their lives with a long term goal of adding chess to the curriculum of West Alabama public schools.

She volunteered for FOCUS on Senior Citizens in Tuscaloosa for several years, providing rides to individuals in need of transportation. FOCUS on Senior Citizens also provided parking places and transportation to Alabama Football Games.

Her other interests include dog obedience training, horseback riding and care of horses, Judo, and Akito Karate where she held a black belt.

Donations and memorial gifts should be sent to Therapeutic Riding of Tuscaloosa (TROT) 3200 Clements Road Cottondale, Al 35453. 205-752-7691 [email protected] C/O Dr. Maguerite Malone CEO and Clinical Director of TROT.