Roselyn Beery has been using the power of her voice to better the world and give hope to those around her for as long as she can remember. In the 1940s, Roselyn volunteered with a traveling USO group, singing to not only wounded soldiers but also children with handicaps and homes of others who needed their spirits lifted. It is her God-given gift that Roselyn says has made her the person that she has become.
Today, Roselyn volunteers with her church, greeting the congregation before the start of service and also helps with the church newsletter. Roselyn hasn’t stopped doing her part to help those who have fallen ill however, she continues helping by making phone calls to those needing encouragement and writes letters to anyone whose day she can brighten.
Roselyn’s good deeds have been a part of her for the majority of her life. Up until a few years ago, Roselyn was active in the community, volunteering at an elementary school, teaching Sunday school, as well as serving as the executive director of United Way. Roselyn’s services have ranged from committees and commissions to women’s service organizations, she even tested her hand at politics for several years.
The inspiration that Roselyn has used in the past to help better the lives of those around her and the inspiration that she continues to use stems from her faith in God and Jesus as well as her late friend Helen. “She always told me to have patience, to share what I have and be very thankful,” Roselyn says about Helen. “She was a wonderful friend.”
With as much of the world as Roselyn has already changed, she would still like to see the world rid of greed and envy. In place, she hopes that kindness, compassion and tolerance could be injected into our society. She does her best to live by the teachings of Jesus, and even though it’s not an easy task, it is one that continues to try to accomplish. Through the word of Jesus, faith and trust become your sole motivators in life.
Roselyn is a widow to her late husband and has raised four children. Roselyn’s eldest daughter passed away from cancer just over four years ago, at which time Roselyn came to Columbus to help care for her. Her husband was always extremely supporting, always telling Roselyn that she can do what she sets out to do. The two of them were a team, Roselyn says, if she couldn’t make an appointment or meeting, he would.
As one of Sunny 95’s 20 Outstanding Women You Should Know, Roselyn hopes to do her best to live up to the honor. Her daughter, who nominated Roselyn for the honor, is extremely excited to see Roselyn get recognized for all of the fantastic things she’s done throughout her life. Most importantly, Roselyn hopes that she can be the person that her daughter thinks that she should be.