Ocean City’s will celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at a ceremony on Saturday (Jan. 17). But the event also will recognize the woman who organized Ocean City’s first celebration of Dr. King 25 years ago.
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Read more about the 25th annual celebration on Saturday and a Day of Service on Monday.
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The life of Rozelia Wiggins Cobb was remarkable in its own right.
The following short biography was “humbly written by Charlotte Noble-Thontteh – Formerly Tina West – oldest grandchild” of Cobb.
King’s story has been recorded in history. Here’s Cobb’s story:
She was born Rozelia Anne Wiggins on October 14, 1927 to the late Leonard L.T. Wiggins and Rozelia Anna Shaw Wiggins in Blackwood, N.J. Her father soon built the family domicile at 302 West Avenue in Ocean City where she and her two brothers were raised. Early educated in the Wesley Avenue School, she was later accepted into Bordentown Prepatory School. At the age of 17 she was attending post-secondary school at Glassboro State Teacher’s College (now Rowan University) where she received her Bachelor’s Degree. Soon after graduation her career began in the Atlantic City Public School system. After a few years, she relocated to Philadelphia where her career excelled… tenured with 20+ years of employment in the Philadelphia Public School System and influencing the lives of many… including one particular young lady who was known to constantly roam the halls singing loudly (now known as Patti La Belle). Another notable Philadelphia teaching assignment landed her in what would be known today as “Alternative High School” filled with, what at that time were called, “Emotional Disturbed and Maladjusted” teenage boys who had thrown her predecessor (an over 6 foot tall male teacher) out of their 3rd floor classroom window. With a great amount of prayer and a mean left hook… she soon took control and began doing what others had failed to do… TEACH these then labeled “unteachable” boys.
In the early to mid 60’s, even though teaching throughout the winter, Rozelia would spend summers working as a local chambermaid to stay humble and teach her teenage daughter Leona (also known as Rozelia the 3rd) the importance of responsibility and remembering who you really are. During the summer of 1964 they actually worked together, side by side, cleaning rooms daily at the Impala Motel.
It was in July of 1965 that a late night robbery at their West Philadelphia apartment caused an immediate move back home to Ocean City. The garage, located on the alley of 200 Third Street would be quickly renovated into a 2 bedroom house and later became part of the family compound and known as 204 Third Street. During those first few years, she made the commute to and from Philly daily to teach. Although extremely well experienced and credentialed, she was at that time rejected for employment multiple times with the Ocean City Public School System. She faithfully re-applied EVERY school year… refusing to be denied the opportunity to teach in her hometown, where she lived and paid property taxes… disregarding the civilly charged and distressed times! Finally, after the turn of the decade, she was employed with the Ocean City Board of Education and assigned to the Intermediate School teaching in a newly formed department called “LRC or Learning Resource Center”. At that time, this department served Cape May County regionally to meet the special needs of children classified as developmentally challenged either mentally, behaviorally or emotionally… but Rozelia was unshaken… determined to change the lives and futures of her again often deemed “unteachable” students. There is reported success story… after success story of her sometimes unconventional means and breakthrough methods of educating which were supported by unimaginable levels of learning, growth and achievement of those who were privileged to end up in her classroom. She loyally, lovingly and unforgettably taught what we now call “Special Education” there at Ocean City Intermediate School until her terminal diagnosis in 1990.
In the community, Mrs. Cobb was reluctantly called a “Leader”… “Activist”… “Advocate”… and “Trailblazer”. She preferred to just be known as Rozelia… while faithfully being diligent of her call and obeying GOD in All that HE gave her hands to do. As church organist and director of three choirs at the Macedonia United Methodist Church, she readily served and saturated our community with pilot programs, that gave hope to the hopeless… help to the helpless… shaped, molded and encouraged every toddler to young adult she could get her hands on! She instituted, without grants or public funds, Arts and Crafts, Black Health & Beauty and Home Nursing Programs. Her flagship project – a Homework Center in which she recruited other local teachers to benevolently share their expertise, the school to donate supplies, and even a bus driver who volunteered her afternoons to drive a big yellow bus through the neighborhood transporting students to the church to receive one-on-one tutoring – ensured the opportunity of academic advancement and the future viability of Ocean City’s cultural diversity. She particularly impacted our local African American community exposing us to the finer things in life – the arts, culture, etiquette and travel – with a “You Can Make It” attitude she motivated and cultivated until every child understood the sky was their only limit. She was known to organize trips and finance them through fundraisers, private donations and personal funds. Being an expert knitter, one year she taught teenagers to do so as well and personally knitted over 200 pair of “leg warmers” to fund a travel project. New York’s Broadway, Florida’s Walt Disneyworld and The Bahamas were only a few of the destinations toured by the black youth of Ocean City.
Rozelia Wiggins Cobb will always be remembered as a dedicated Christian woman. An accomplished pianist, soloist and speaker she was often called on to render a vocal selection or play for local weddings, funerals, and other public and religious events and was well known for her powerful praying and bold preaching of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Remaining faithful to GOD, her community and family she has left an indelible impression on us all. Her legacy leaves one daughter, four grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and one great, great, grandchild to date… in which yields a 40+ year retired R.N. and Nursing Supervisor, a Real Estate Professional, a Special Education Teacher, a Music Teacher – Vocal Coach – and Songstress Extraordinaire, a College Vocal Music Major and Performer, a College Dance Education Major and Choreographer, a Hardworking Retail Manager, a Talented Cook, and a High School Scholar – entering George Mason University this fall. Through these and countless others… she lives!!!
Rozelia Wiggins Cobb… long gone… but NEVER forgotten!!!
We Love You Forever – Proudly Submitted by The Family
