OBITUARY Rosemary Wilson Rylander Young, daughter of Frank and Adlean Wilson, born on September 4, 1923 and deceased on September 4, 2020, remained an active resident of Seymourville, Plaquemine, Louisiana until advancing age and declining health curtailed her involvement in her community. Mary, or Nannie Mae, as she was affectionately called by her many nieces and nephews, was a member of numerous local and state organizations and held offices in several. Her forward thinking and desire to always be independent led to her becoming a small business owner. She and her late husband, Warren Rylander, opened Mary’s Place, a small café in the 1950s, which became a meeting place for locals as well as workers at area plants. She remained its sole proprietor for more than 25 years. Seeing a need for making Bibles, literature and other resources and apparel available to churches and individuals for their spiritual growth and development, Mrs. Young and her daughter, the late Dr. Kiki Thomas founded F & A Christian Bookstore in 1994 and dedicated and named it in honor of her parents, Frank and Adlean Wilson. In addition to her entrepreneurial endeavors, Mrs. Young was affiliated with Jewels Social and Civic Club, Iberville Women on the Move, Progressive Matrons, Gite Circle and Order of the Easter Stars Temple Chapter # 58. Uplifting the next generation was a primary concern of Mrs. Young, thus her dedicated service to organizations that would encourage and inspire younger leaders to also strive for excellence. Her memberships in, affiliations with, and contributions, to the following: The African American Council, Louisiana Correctional Association, Iberville Parish Ministers Conference, Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), Community Advisory Panel, The Dow Chemical Company (1992-2003), Southern University Volunteer Training Program, and Louisianan Association of Minority Criminal Justice Workers hopefully made a difference in the lives of those who followed her. As a Christian who was baptized at an early age, Sister Young was a longtime member of Ebenezer Baptist Church and in later years transferred her membership to St. Luke Family Christian Center. In both churches she worked diligently in auxiliaries and ministries, including choir, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and Trustee Boards. Mrs. Young was most proud of her being appointed to the Governor’s Staff in 1985 and named an Honorary State Representative in the same year. She served on the State Parole Board under Governor Edwin Edwards in 1984-1985, and was a member of the Louisiana Bicentennial Commission in 1997. Her awards and honorariums are too numerous to list. Sister Young was predeceased by her parents, Frank and Adlean Wilson, her brother, Jesse Wilson, Sr., her sister, Betty Wilson Edwards, and her daughters, Dr. Ernestine Kiki Thomas, Rosemary Rylander and Wander Rylander Young. She is survived by her sons, Henry Peterson, Jr. (Carolyn) of Pearland, Texas and Rev. Frank Peterson (Elizabeth) of Allen, Texas. Also left to cherish her memory are her many grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.