COLUMBUS, Ohio — Eloise Chiles Roach-Champion of Mississippi passed away on Aug. 23, 2008. She was 88 years old.

Eloise was born on April 13, 1920, to Jesse Chiles (born a slave in 1863) and Bessie Prater Chiles (born in 1894.) Eloise lived in Mississippi, where she met and married Willie C. Roach. During their 30 plus-year union, they moved to Chicago where Eloise met and developed a friendship with gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. Later in life, Eloise moved to Columbus, Ohio.

Spreading love and kindness to those she met, Eloise will be deeply missed by those who knew her as a kind, loving and thoughtful person. Celebration of life will be Saturday, Aug. 30, 2008, in Columbus, Ohio, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses Worthington Congregation.

In loving memory of our dear Eloise, we will miss you — Chiles, Davis and Roach families.