Geraldine "Bits" Best Rosser, 85, passed away into the arms of her Lord on Sunday, February 28, 2016 at McLeod Regional Medical Center from complications with the flu.

Bits as she is known by her family was born on February 18, 1931 to Austin and Elizabeth Best. Her parents died when she was 18 months old. She and her 5 year old sister were adopted by their aunt Estelle Best Long and her husband, John Long of Conway, SC. She spent her childhood in Conway and Myrtle Beach, surrounded by two large and loving families, the Best family and the Long family. Bits was a 1951 graduate of Columbia College, majoring in music and education. It was while at Columbia College, she met an Alabamian stationed at Fort Jackson, Claude Rosser. They married on September 6, 1952 and she taught school in Columbia, while Claude attended Pharmacy school at USC. Together they raised two daughters, Estelle and Mary Beth. They co-owned the Palmetto Pharmacy in Florence from 1957 until retirement in 1994. She thoroughly enjoyed a close relationship with her four grandchildren, Jesse, Patty-Margaret, Katie and Kellen. She loved all of them equally and never missed a chance to spend time with them. She was the ultimate hostess, always making sure favorite foods were on the menu when visitors came. Bits will always be remembered for putting others first and her heart for people in need. She loved animals and her cat, Lucy, was the most special of all.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, Mildred, Louise and Aileen, and a son-in-law, Hal Burrows.

Surviving are her husband of 63 years, Claude Rosser, Jr., daughters, Estelle Brown and her husband, Robbie of Winnsboro, SC and Mary Beth Burrows of Carthage, NC, a sister, Joyce Long Smith of Interlachen, FL, a brother, Russell Hodges of Conway, her grandchildren, Jesse and wife, Katy of Uncasville, CT., Patty-Margaret Brown of West Columbia, Katie Brown of Blythewood, and Kellen Brown of Kilkenny, Ireland, and a great-granddaughter, Amelia Brown of Uncasville, CT.

A memorial service will be held at 11 AM on Friday, March 4, 2016 in the chapel of Cain-Calcutt Stephens Funeral Home. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the services in the chapel. Inurnment will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery.

Children were especially dear to her, so memorials made to benefit a child would make us all very happy.