Reflections of a Blessed Life

Reflections of a Blessed Life

Betty Jean Osborne Queen

March 22, 1944 - November 24, 2025

On March 22, 1944, Betty Jean Osborne was born to Parker and Carrie Lee Shannon Roscoe Osborne, in Washington, DC.  She was the only sister to Alfred Donald Roscoe, Jr., Parker Lee and Johnnie Thomas Osborne.

The family attended Purity Baptist Church in NE Washington DC, where Betty and her brothers were very active.  She often played the piano at the Baptist Training Union (BTU) meetings. Her younger brother Johnnie fondly remembers singing along during these meetings. As an adult, she joined Liberty Baptist Church in SE, Washington DC, where she served as one of their pianists.

Betty eventually visited Emmanuel Baptist Church in SE, Washington, DC and became a member in 1976. Shortly after joining Emmanuel, she became a member of the Emmanuel Choraleers where she continued singing until August 2025 (49 years). She traveled with her choir throughout the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia (DMV), singing at many church anniversaries and events. In 1985, the Choraleers won the Kentucky Fried Chicken Gospel Choir National Competition. The Choraleers won the opportunity to sing in Paris, France, and Betty was blessed to attend. She had fond memories of this wonderful experience.

Betty was educated in the DC Public Schools. She loved to read and was a bright student who was eager to learn. In 1962, she graduated, with honors, from Eastern High School in NE, Washington DC. She continued her education by taking college courses and earning certifications which helped her excel and earn promotions.

Betty began her public service career, in the Federal Government, after her high school graduation.  She worked for the United States General Accounting Office (GAO) and later the Department of Justice (DOJ). In 2001, she retired from the Civil Division of the DOJ.

Betty was an entrepreneur, like her mother, Carrie, and her brother, Alfred. She sold Tupperware, Avon, and Mary Kay.  Upon her retirement, she also sold insurance policies.

Like her brother, Parker Lee affectionately known as Ozzie, Betty was an avid and competitive bowler. She bowled into the ninth month of each of her two pregnancies. She joined the Prince George's Omega Mixed Bowling League in 1982 and was a proud member of the 1984 Championship team. In May 2025 after 43 years of bowling in the same league she retired her 15-pound bowling ball.

Betty married Everett Feemster on July 5, 1965. From their union two daughters were born, Monique Toni and QuiNae Evette. The union with Everett Feemster and a later union with Theodore Pearson were both dissolved.

In 2010 Betty moved to a 55+ independent senior residence, Chestnut Oaks in Ft. Washington, MD.  She made a lot of friends and participated in many of their activities, exercise classes, live music, arts and crafts, bid whist, pokeno, and watching football on Sundays with other residents.  It was there where she met her husband; and at 72 years young, Betty married James Queen on September 24, 2016.

Betty was preceded in death by her daughter, QuiNae in 1991, at the age of 23; her parents, Parker and Carrie Lee Osborne; her brothers Alfred D. Roscoe, Jr., and Parker Lee Osborne (Ozzie); her nephews Parker Lee III (PL), Darius Osborne, and Michael McKnight.

Betty is survived by her beloved husband, James Queen; her daughter Monique Feemster Mangrum, and son-in-love, Willard Mangrum; three grandchildren, Aswan Nantambu (Oz), Nile Hakeem and Ashanti QuiNae Mangrum; her brother Johnnie T. Osborne. Her sisters-in-love; Wilma Jean Harris Roscoe, Hilda Barnes Osborne, Mildred Youngblood Osborne, and Vera Stafford Osborne Bullock (Patsy). Her nephews Sean L. Osborne, and his wife Sonja, Alfred D. Roscoe III, and his wife Leandra, Johnnie T. Osborne II and his wife Deirdre. Her nieces Rachel T. Osborne (Peaches), Andrea T. Osborne (Toni), JeNa V. Roscoe and JeNeen D. Roscoe, and Shannon P. Osborne. Her great nieces and nephews; Anthony Osborne-McKnight, Sean Osborne II, Morgan Osborne, Taylor McKnight, Austin Osborne, Madison Osborne, Alfred Roscoe IV, Andrew Roscoe, Shawn Monroe, Phayth Monroe, Miercolez Osborne and Serinity Osborne; and a host of cousins and friends.