Two weeks ago, Roosevelt White sadly passed away. Many knew him best as Rosey.
NewsChannel 3 followed his story for years, even helping get him to a treatment facility in Ohio for the morbidly obese.
His family, friends and people who only knew him from TV came together for a memorial service at Shiloh Baptist Church on Tuesday night.
Rosey’s mother, Carolyn White, was in the hospital herself during his final days. It’s still hard for her to accept that her son never came home.
“When he left town, my dream was to see him come back, but it didn’t work out that way,” says Carolyn.
Even though Rosey’s weight kept him confined for years, his story still touched so many around Hampton Roads.
Some even felt compelled to be at his memorial.
“The story on NewsChannel 3, I followed it the whole time,” says Kenny Craig.
Craig met Rosey in passing back in 1991, outside of a McDonald’s and 20 years later, he hoped that Rosey could finally conquer his demons.
“I thought to myself, he was going to make it, never thought I would be in a place like this giving my condolences,” says Craig.
“It made us feel very good that so many people cared. It’s a happy story, it just has a sad ending,” says Rosey’s father, Daniel O. Smith, Jr.
Rosey’s body may be gone, but his family hopes his legacy will live on, and inspire others to do better than he could.
“We can only keep praying that others take note, try not to let themselves get out of hand like that,” says Daniel.
“Keep trying, never give up,” says Carolyn.
