Obituary: Major Rosalie Biddix Chastain
Major Rosalie Biddix Chastain (Retired) passed away on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 in Kinston, North Carolina. She was born on September 20, 1933 in Woodfin, North Carolina to William Alonzo and Lillie Leora Rice Biddix. Soon after, they moved to Asheville, North Carolina, where she was raised and remained until the age of 20. Rosalie dedicated her life to The Salvation Army. When she was 8 years old, she joined Junior Soldiers, and at the age of 20, she left for The Salvation Army’s School for Officers’ Training in Atlanta, Georgia.
While at the School for Officers’ Training, she met Cadet Joseph Lee Chastain, also known as Jack. She was commissioned in 1954 in the Shepards Session. She and Jack married on September 12, 1955. She retired at the rank of Major in June of 1999 and relocated to Grifton, North Carolina, although she always called the North Carolina mountains home. Rosalie’s longtime career with The Salvation Army included bookkeeping for the Corps; creation and running of the Angel Tree Program; League of Mercy, visiting and ministering to those in prison and delivering care packages; Home League; and ministering the gospel of Jesus Christ for decades.
Rosalie continued working for The Salvation Army as a bookkeeper after retirement. She was fiercely committed to her family and loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren selflessly. Rosalie’s gentle spirit enveloped those around her. She loved writing, and she produced beautiful poetry. She cooked the best macaroni-and-cheese, Sunday roast beef dinner, and spaghetti sauce. She enjoyed playing Trivial Pursuit and Chinese Checkers, watching television, vacationing with family, scrapbooking, and sharing anything she had with others.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack, in February of 2022; both of her parents; three sisters, Major Madeline Edwards, Virgina May Fletcher, and Carolyn Doris Gainey; and three brothers, Wilson Theodore Biddix, Edward Eugene Biddix, and John Bascomb Biddix. Rosalie is survived by two sons; David Michael Chastain and wife, Betty, of Grifton and Paul Keith Chastain and lifelong partner, Lois, of Fayetteville; one daughter, Amanda Chastain Graham and husband, Scott, of Tallahassee; three granddaughters, Jennifer, Meagan and Ashlie; Ashlie’s mother, Jayna; Nine great grandchildren, Sydney and husband, Malaki, Parker, Troy, Caden, Journey, Eli, Trey, Olivia, and Sterling.
Funeral Services will be held on Monday, December 4, 2023 at 10:30 AM at The Salvation Army, 2110 N. Queen St., Kinston. Burial will follow at Pinelawn Memorial Park.
The family will greet friends at The Salvation Army on Monday, December, 4, 2023 from 9:30 AM until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Major Rosalie Chastain’s name to The Salvation Army in Kinston, North Carolina
