Age 81, of Pittsburgh, PA, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 3, 2026. Daughter of the late George Washington and Marybelle Dennis Washington; sister of Ruthanne Lewis, Betty Hudson and the late Dennis Washington. Carrie is survived by her godchildren and a host of nieces nephews other family and friends. Friends received Friday, August 14, 2026, 4 p.m. until 7 p.m., at ROSE FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, where service will be held Saturday, at 11 a.m.
GORDON “G.O.” SHEALEY
Gordon “G.O.” Shealey was born on February 10, 1948, to Gracie Mae and George H. Shealey. He passed into eternity on July 2, 2026, with his wife and daughter present.
Gordon was preceded in death by his parents George Hamilton and Gracie Mae (Vann) Shealey, his son Thomas Gordon Shealey, and his grandson Tariq Gordon Felix. Left behind to cherish his memory are his beloved wife of almost 55 years Charmayne (Wilson) Shealey, his adoring daughter Sharene Shealey, his grandchildren Alexandra, Kennedy, Thomas, and Erin Bowens and Aneesah Shealey, Nasirah and Salimah Scott, his great-grandson Kairo Bowens, his siblings Gwendolyn (Lionel) Deanes, George L. (Carolyn) Shealey, Louis (Alberta) Shealey, Eugene (Cassandra) Shealey, Ronald (Marcia) Shealey, and La’Fay (George) Pinchback, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Gordon’s ashes will be interred at Homewood Cemetery following a private ceremony with military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the United Negro College Fund.
Sylvia F Pace
Our beloved, Sylvia Faye (Battle) Pace, was born on July 5, 1951, in Macon, Georgia to the late James Edward Battle and Annie Clyde Battle (Ballard) and went home to be with her savior, Jesus Christ, on July 16, 2026, at UPMC Montefiore hospital. She was preceded in death by her brother Ellis (Edna) Battle.
She received her high school diploma in 1969 from Ballard-Hudson High School in Macon. After graduating she moved to Grafton, West Virginia then to Pittsburgh where she met and married the love of her life, James Pace Jr. on August 12, 1973. In addition to raising her family, she received her associate’s degree in business administration from the Community College of Allegheny County and retired after 29 years of service as an infectious disease specialist from the Allegheny County Health Department.
Syliva lived a life dedicated to Christ. She would devote herself to daily reading of the Bible early in the morning. She was a faithful member of the Rodman Street Baptist Church for over 20 years, where she frequently participated in prayer calls and Bible studies. She was also devoted to her family with whom she loved to engage in activities such as fishing, traveling and cooking.
Sylvia leaves to cherish in her memory, her loving husband James Pace Jr.; three sons; Kevin (Malieka) Pace, Eric Pace and Michael (Amber) Pace; five brothers; James E. (Gabriell) Battle, Franklin D. (Liane) Battle, William C. (Deborah) Battle, Christopher T. (Elaine) Battle, Jack B. (Elaine) Battle; her sister; Jessie A. Battle; brother-in-law; Robert (Freda) Wilson; seven grandchildren; Christopher Pace, Anani Pace, Amirah Pace, Aubrey Pace, Micah Pace, Joshua Pace, Jacob Pace and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Friends received Thursday, July 23, 2026, 4pm to 8pm at Rose Funeral Home & Cremation Services 10940 Frankstown Road, Pittsburgh PA 15235. Service will be held Friday, July 24, 2026, 11am at Rodman Street Missionary Baptist Church, 6111 Rodman St, Pittsburgh PA 15206.
Tommy Lafitte
Reflection of a Life Well Lived
Mr. Tommy Lafitte was born December 28, 1946 in Shreveport, Louisiana to the late Mr. Willie Sr. and Cora Lafitte. Tommy accepted Christ at an early age at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Tommy Lafitte was born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana in the Stoner Hill Valencia Community. He grew up going to church, climbing trees, playing sports, fishing, playing in the school band and just being a typical young boy. He had the best teachers a child could have at Valencia Elementary, Stoner Hill Elementary, J.S. Clark Junior High School and Booker T. Washington High School class of 64 all located in Shreveport, LA. He furthered his education at Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA majoring in education. He moved to Pittsburgh right after college. He was employed by Wilkinsburg School District as an 8th grade Social Studies Teacher and later became Assistant Principal of Wilkinsburg High School. He retired from the school district at an early age, he often said his life as an educator was probably the best thing he has ever done. While working in education he would spend his summer breaks filming movies, commercials and doing stage plays ect. After retiring from education he became a full time actor with more than 50 film/ TV credits as a member SAG-AFTRA ranging from Dawn of the Dead, the Temptations, Jack Reacher, the Marksman, I am Wrath, Judas and the Black Messiah, Leroy Dell in Graduation, One for the Money, The Silence of the Lambs, Mayor Kingstown, Cha Cha Real Smooth, American Rust, Manhunt, Feast of the Seven Fishes, One Dollar, The Umbrella Man, American Pastoral, Out of the Furnace, A New York Heartbeat, Riddle, Bamboo Shark, The Greenman, The bridge to Nowhere, Carpet Kingdom, Greetings from Pittsburgh: Neighborhood Narratives, The Mysteries Pittsburgh, Bet your life, The West Wing, Hammerlock, Black Dahlia, The Assassination File, Sudden Death, The Piano Lesson, Passed Away, Diary of a Hitman, The Ten Million Dollar Getaway, Heatstopper, Gung Ho and Knightriders.
Tommy was preceded in death by his mother and father Cora and Willie Lafitte Sr., his only son Daryl Lafitte, 3 sisters Mardra Lafitte Edwards, Nancy Lafitte Anderson, Cora Dell Lafitte, 3 brothers Columbs Lafitte, Willie Lafitte Jr. “Sonny”, Eugene Lafitte Sr., 4 Nieces Patricia, Lillian, Regina, Sheridan 6 nephews Jimmy, Gregory, Randy, Percy, Eugene Jr and Cordova.
He leaves to cherish his memories 4 nieces Patti (Donnie), Tuwanna, Shelia and Jeanie, 5 nephews Bobby Joe, Ramon, Dewayne, Boo Ray and Faye Faye. Special great niece Nichol Giles(Melvin) special great nephew Ricardo Tilmon (Tonia), 2 special great great nephews Romell Tilmon and Melvin Giles Jr. a special cousin Flenard Autrey, a real good friend Mr. Rick Suggs and Family and a host of great nieces, nephews, cousin and friends.
Also cherishing his memories are his student from Wilkinsburg High School. Thank you all for sharing your stories with us. We really have enjoyed reading them all. We really appreciate you all.
Friends received Friday June 26, 2026 at Noon at the funeral home
Richard Lawrence Baugh (5/2/1934–5/31/2026)
Richard Lawrence Baugh, born in 1934 as the fourth of eight children into the loving family of William Herbert Baugh and Lucille Adair Baugh, passed away peacefully at his home on May 31, 2026, at the age of 92.
Richard graduated from Pittsburgh’s Westinghouse High School and the Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) School of Fine Arts, where he earned degrees in music performance and music education. He also met fellow musician Kenna Copeland, the love of his life. Despite the societal obstacles and familial concern they faced as an interracial couple, they married in 1961 and moved to New York. There Richard continued his songwriting and musical performance on both trumpet and piano.
Richard inspired students for over 30 years as a music teacher in the New York City Public Schools while building his own family in Seaford, NY. He and Kenna found a close community at the First Presbyterian Church of Levittown, where Richard served as a deacon and elder, engaged in numerous service projects, and greatly impacted the music ministry. Upon retirement, Richard and Kenna returned to Pittsburgh.
Richard was the lifeblood of any gathering. His stories, warmth, music, and energy filled any space he entered. He provided melody, harmony, and a stabilizing bass line for all in his orbit, especially on many memorable family Christmas Eves. Richard took great pleasure in ice cream, his piano, Scrabble, and elegantly written lyrics. He embodied dignity and respect, never compromising his principles for convenience or comfort. Above all, he exuded love and expressed it freely through countless words and deeds.
Richard is survived by Kenna (Copeland) Baugh, his beloved wife of 65 years; his children, Lori Hickey (Neil) and Richelle Tarlin (Jeff); and his grandchildren, Lee Tarlin (Halie) and Eric Tarlin. He is also survived by siblings Marjorie Jackson, W. Harold Baugh (Chacona), Janet Baugh-Jones, Brenda King (John), sisters-in-law Joan Parker (Simmons) Baugh and Bernadette (Carter) Baugh, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins, as well as many beloved family members through his marriage to Kenna. Preceding him in death were his parents, Bill and Lucille; his siblings William Herbert Baugh, Jr., Constance Woods, and Samuel Baugh; and his brothers-in-law Charles Jackson and Herb Woods.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Carter Family Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, or Southern Poverty Law Center.
Friends received Friday, June 5, 2026, at 11am till time of service at noon, at Allegheny Cemetery Temple of Memories Mausoleum, 4715 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224.
Marla E Rollins
Passed away peacefully on Friday, May 22, 2026. Funeral service will be held Friday, May 29, 2026 at 11am at Rose Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 10940 Frankstowns Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15235.