Mrs. Rosa Pearl Duncan started her Mother’s Day celebrations many years ago. She also celebrates her birthday during this time. On May 12,2017, Mother, as she is called by her children, church family and many others, will be 90 years old! A gala celebration is planned for her at Windsor Hall in Savannah.

“I am happy God allowed me to live to see this age,” she said. “I have never had an operation. It is a blessing from the Lord.”

Mrs. Duncan is the daughter of the late Sam and Viola Barnard of Allenhurst. Her husband Charles R. Duncan died years ago.

“My parents had 11 children, and I had 12 children,” she said.

All of her siblings, with the exception of one brother, the Rev. James Barnard of Florida, are deceased.

“I have nine living children and three deceased children,” she said.

Her children are, Rufus Shuman, Annette Shuman, Linda Ford, and Antonio Duncan (Hinesville), Deloris Duncan and Gloria Johnson (Atlanta), Carolyn Daniels, Reginald Duncan (Savannah), and Eugene Alvin (Florida). Jacquelyn Rogers, Charles Shuman and Robert Shuman are deceased.

“My oldest child would have been 74 and the youngest is 50,” she said.

Mrs. Duncan comes from a singing family, and has a melodious voice that will bring tears to your eyes. She spent years singing in church choirs and participating on various programs “My favorite song is, I Won’t Complain and my favorite Scripture is Psalm 27. “

Mrs. Duncan has not allowed her age to hamper her from getting out and helping others. She received several awards in the past years, including the Emancipation Proclamation Award and the 4thAnnual Women Without Titles Honoree Award. 

Mrs. Rosa Duncan concluded, “I asked God to use me as He sees fit. I have had some good days and some bad days, but through it all, I won't complain because God has been so good to me!"