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Betty Daniels Rosemond was born on May 14, 1939, in Magnolia, Mississippi, to the late David Daniels Sr. and Ardis Victorian. She was one of six children.

On Sunday, January 18, 2026, God called her name, and she answered. Surrounded by family and friends, Betty made her triumphant entrance into glory, leaving behind a legacy of courage, love, and unwavering faith. She grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana, and graduated in 1959 from Joseph S. Clark High School. Betty was among the first Black students to attend Louisiana State University–New Orleans, breaking racial barriers in the segregated South. Driven by a deep commitment to justice, she left LSU to join the Civil Rights Movement. She became a member of CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) under the leadership of Dr. James Farmer, and later became a Freedom Rider. As a Freedom Rider, Betty traveled throughout the Deep South, testing bus stations and public facilities to see if they were complying with the Interstate Commerce Commission's ruling that banned discrimination in interstate travel. The Freedom Riders faced violence, arrests, and threats of death, yet they remained courageous and determined. Despite the hostility and danger, they stood firm—and they accomplished their mission.

In 1961, Betty nearly lost her life during a Freedom Ride in Poplarville, Mississippi. She was later arrested in Alexandria, Virginia, during a sit-in at a downtown restaurant that served "whites only."

In Washington, D.C., while on a picket line, she met Garnell Rosemond, who was also active in the movement. They were married in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1962, and to this union, they were blessed with three children.

Betty later moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where she continued her work for justice, remaining an active and committed advocate for civil rights and community progress.

Betty devoted decades of her life to St. Vincent de Paul, continuing her work there until the age of 80 out of sheer love and dedication for her vocation."

On May 4, 2011, she appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show with 189 surviving Freedom Riders to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the first Freedom Ride. Oprah Winfrey said: "As an African American woman born in Mississippi in the South, I owe a deep debt of gratitude to the Freedom Riders, as do we all. I know my life would be different were it not for them."

On November 9, 2011, the National Women's Law Center honored Mrs. Rosemond, along with 14 other women Freedom Riders, at their Annual Dinner in Washington, D.C. They met privately with President Barack Obama, who embraced each of them and noted that the Freedom Riders helped pave the way for his journey to the White House through their efforts to advance equality in America.

In October 2014, she was inducted into the Ohio Civil Rights Hall of Fame, honoring her lifelong commitment to justice and equality.

She was a phenomenal poet and a powerful public speaker, gifted with the rare ability to move hearts and awaken minds. Wherever she was invited—churches, colleges, schools, prisons, community events, and special programs—she went willingly, always accepting the call to share her life story. She understood that her voice was not her own, but God-driven, and she used it faithfully. Her words carried truth, history, and hope. Through poetry and testimony, she brought the Civil Rights Movement to life, not as something distant in history books, but as a lived experience marked by courage, faith, and divine protection. She believed with certainty that she had been handpicked by God, guided and shielded by His hand throughout the movement, and spared so that she could tell the story.

She spoke of danger and deliverance, of fear and faith, always giving glory to God for carrying her through. Her message was never about self-praise, but about purpose—about obedience to God's call and responsibility to pass the lessons on to future generations. Listeners left changed, inspired not only by what she had endured, but by how deeply she trusted God in the midst of it all. Her life did not need explanation or defense—her works spoke clearly and powerfully for her. Every act of kindness, every sacrifice made quietly, every life she touched stands as a testimony to who she was. She lived with purpose, humility, and grace, leaving behind a legacy written not in words but in the countless hearts she shaped and uplifted.

Her life was well lived, and her love will continue to speak long after her voice is gone.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Garnell Rosemond; her grandson, Damon Rosemond; her parents; and her brothers and sisters.

She is survived by her daughters, Michelle Rosemond and Valerie Rosemond; son, Bryan Rosemond (Veronica); grandchildren, Isaiah Reaves, Tiffany Tucker, Darius Jeter, Ciera George, and Jason Rosemond; five great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from 9:00 am until 10:30 am, on  Friday, January 30, 2026, at the College Hill Presbyterian Church, 5742 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati  (45224).   The funeral service will immediately follow the visitation,  beginning at 10:30 am. Friends and family will gather to share memories, find solace in one another's company, and honor the legacy she leaves behind.

She will be laid to rest at Walnut Hills Cemetery, 3117 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45206.

We invite you to take a few moments to share fond memories and words of comfort and condolence with the Rosemond family. Please click the "Tribute Wall" icon above and to the right, enter the information, and click "Save Post."

Walker Funeral Home and Crematory  is caring for the Rosemond family during this difficult time.  Please call 513.251.6200 or visit www.HerbWalker.com for additional information.