Obituary for Chesteenia Colquitt (Roundtree)
Chesteenia Colquitt, 97, passed this life on Tuesday, June 25th, 2019 in St, Vincent Hospital. She was born on October 15th, 1921 in Union Church, Mississippi to Sam and Maude Roundtree.
After attending elementary and high school in Mississippi, her family moved to Knoxville, TN. She eventually met and married her husband, Floyd Colquitt, Jr. and from this union came two daughters. Along with several extended family members, the family moved to Toledo in 1953. Chesteenia soon found work and was employed as a Domestic Worker for several families in and around the Toledo area.
While working a job, raising a family, and caregiver for her mother, Chesteenia always kept her faith in God. Third Baptist Church on Division Street with Pastor Mason was the first church Chesteenia and the family united with after coming to Toledo. After a few years, the family eventually moved to another part of the city.
Chesteenia's love for God grew stronger as the family united with the Mt. Nebo Missionary Baptist Church with pastor A.L. Roach in 1964. She faithfully served as an usher on the Usher Board and even taught Sunday School for a few years.
After about 20 years, Chesteenia and now, Rev. Floyd Colquitt, Jr. felt spiritually led to unite with the Union Grove Missionary with pastor J.L. Spears where she served on the Mothers Board.
Experiencing the impact of God's power and God' love in her life, Chesteenia wanted to spread the gospel in a way that would reach out to the community and beyond. As Chesteenia and Rev. Floyd conducted weekly Bible study and prayer meetings in their home on Greene Street, this was one way they began reaching out to spread the gospel. She passed out Bible tracks to anyone that would accept it. Her desire was to let others know of God's great love.
Even though she reached out to others, she did not want to see her own family lost to the world. Lovingly known as "Aunt Teenie" to her niece and nephews, she taught them how to say the Lord's Prayer, gave them easy Bible verses for them to remember, and taught them how to read and study the Bible.
As time went on, Chesteenia came across a "Letter from Jesus" which sparked a new inspiration for her to spread the Good News. The first few lines of this letter reads as follows, "My Child, you may not know me, but I know everything about you, and I know when you sit down and when you rise up, I am familiar with all your ways, even the very hairs on your head are numbered, For you were made in my image, in me you live and move and have your being". Then, in 2015, changes in Chesteenia's health prompted her to unite with the St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church with Pastor L.J. Johnson, where her daughter, son-in-law, their Godson, and all of their son-in-laws' family have been longtime members.
Sincere joining with St. Mark, and serving on the Mothers Board, she continued to spread God's message of love, peace, and praise. Her favorite phrase to share with everyone she talked to was "Praise God, give God all the Praise". Another phrase she loved to share was "If you praised the Lord a million times in one day, that would still not be enough". Even though Chesteenia was not always feeling her best, she always had words of encouragement for everyone.
When her children were growing up, her home was the main place where family members would gather together for many family bar-b-que cookouts in the backyard. The family also took many car trips to visit family in Tennessee and Alabama. She really enjoyed being with her sisters-in-law, who in many ways helped Chesteenia step out of her comfort zone. One trip she agreed to go on was the visit to the Great Smokey Mountains. Usually not the adventurous type, but that day she climbed the Mountains with ease and enjoyed the challenge.
Chesteenia is preceded in death by both parents, Sam and Maude Roundtree; husband, Rev. Floyd Colquitt, Jr.; daughter, Vivian Colquitt; brothers, Woodrow W, Roundtree, J. Darffiled Roundtree and sister Henrietta Evans.
Left cherishing her memory is her daughter Vera (Rev. Will) Collier, Toledo, OH; nephew, Robert (Ruth) Evans, Fort Worth, Texas, whom Chesteenia helped raise. Also cherishing her memory are her many nieces, nephews, and cousins from the Roundtree Family and the Evans family, who were like her own children, now living in Toledo, OH, Columbus, OH, Detroit, MI, Houston TX, Jacksonville, FL, Oakridge, TN, Nashville, TN, Murphysboro, TN, Atlanta, GA, and Seattle, WA. Chesteenia always kept a close relationship with her sisters-in-law, Carolyn Colquitt and Loretta (David) Mitchell of Oakridge, TN and Gwen Smith of Nashville, TN. Her memory will also be cherished by her church family who loved her dearly.
After attending elementary and high school in Mississippi, her family moved to Knoxville, TN. She eventually met and married her husband, Floyd Colquitt, Jr. and from this union came two daughters. Along with several extended family members, the family moved to Toledo in 1953. Chesteenia soon found work and was employed as a Domestic Worker for several families in and around the Toledo area.
While working a job, raising a family, and caregiver for her mother, Chesteenia always kept her faith in God. Third Baptist Church on Division Street with Pastor Mason was the first church Chesteenia and the family united with after coming to Toledo. After a few years, the family eventually moved to another part of the city.
Chesteenia's love for God grew stronger as the family united with the Mt. Nebo Missionary Baptist Church with pastor A.L. Roach in 1964. She faithfully served as an usher on the Usher Board and even taught Sunday School for a few years.
After about 20 years, Chesteenia and now, Rev. Floyd Colquitt, Jr. felt spiritually led to unite with the Union Grove Missionary with pastor J.L. Spears where she served on the Mothers Board.
Experiencing the impact of God's power and God' love in her life, Chesteenia wanted to spread the gospel in a way that would reach out to the community and beyond. As Chesteenia and Rev. Floyd conducted weekly Bible study and prayer meetings in their home on Greene Street, this was one way they began reaching out to spread the gospel. She passed out Bible tracks to anyone that would accept it. Her desire was to let others know of God's great love.
Even though she reached out to others, she did not want to see her own family lost to the world. Lovingly known as "Aunt Teenie" to her niece and nephews, she taught them how to say the Lord's Prayer, gave them easy Bible verses for them to remember, and taught them how to read and study the Bible.
As time went on, Chesteenia came across a "Letter from Jesus" which sparked a new inspiration for her to spread the Good News. The first few lines of this letter reads as follows, "My Child, you may not know me, but I know everything about you, and I know when you sit down and when you rise up, I am familiar with all your ways, even the very hairs on your head are numbered, For you were made in my image, in me you live and move and have your being". Then, in 2015, changes in Chesteenia's health prompted her to unite with the St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church with Pastor L.J. Johnson, where her daughter, son-in-law, their Godson, and all of their son-in-laws' family have been longtime members.
Sincere joining with St. Mark, and serving on the Mothers Board, she continued to spread God's message of love, peace, and praise. Her favorite phrase to share with everyone she talked to was "Praise God, give God all the Praise". Another phrase she loved to share was "If you praised the Lord a million times in one day, that would still not be enough". Even though Chesteenia was not always feeling her best, she always had words of encouragement for everyone.
When her children were growing up, her home was the main place where family members would gather together for many family bar-b-que cookouts in the backyard. The family also took many car trips to visit family in Tennessee and Alabama. She really enjoyed being with her sisters-in-law, who in many ways helped Chesteenia step out of her comfort zone. One trip she agreed to go on was the visit to the Great Smokey Mountains. Usually not the adventurous type, but that day she climbed the Mountains with ease and enjoyed the challenge.
Chesteenia is preceded in death by both parents, Sam and Maude Roundtree; husband, Rev. Floyd Colquitt, Jr.; daughter, Vivian Colquitt; brothers, Woodrow W, Roundtree, J. Darffiled Roundtree and sister Henrietta Evans.
Left cherishing her memory is her daughter Vera (Rev. Will) Collier, Toledo, OH; nephew, Robert (Ruth) Evans, Fort Worth, Texas, whom Chesteenia helped raise. Also cherishing her memory are her many nieces, nephews, and cousins from the Roundtree Family and the Evans family, who were like her own children, now living in Toledo, OH, Columbus, OH, Detroit, MI, Houston TX, Jacksonville, FL, Oakridge, TN, Nashville, TN, Murphysboro, TN, Atlanta, GA, and Seattle, WA. Chesteenia always kept a close relationship with her sisters-in-law, Carolyn Colquitt and Loretta (David) Mitchell of Oakridge, TN and Gwen Smith of Nashville, TN. Her memory will also be cherished by her church family who loved her dearly.