Rosie Portilla

Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Delight speaks to more than the pleasure one embraces something or someone.

It is the highest pleasure one experiences when they know the Lord and resolves to live by the principles He has prescribed for their Life.

The very breath and Life of pleasure were exemplified in the beautiful Life of Rosie Faye Portilla.

She was born to the parental stewardship of Jessie Lee and Lillie Mae Boulding on October 31, 1944, in Rosebud, Texas. Here she was formally educated in public schools.

She was reared in the fear and admonition of the Lord and attended Independent Baptist Church in Rosebud, Texas. Here in the tender years of her youth, she was inspired to seal her eternal destiny by accepting Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. Her family relocated to the city of Killeen. She would attend and conclude her high school education at Killeen High School, where she became the first black drummer in the high school band.

Time and experience would mature her love for Jesus as her Savior into her adamant resolve to live her life under His Lordship. Her witness and testimony as a follower of Christ would be shaped, sharpened, and matured when she united with the Marlboro Heights Missionary Baptist Church under the servant leadership of the late Dr. Roscoe A. Abercrombie. Her growth and development under his spiritual tutelage would deepen her devotion to the Lord and his church until his earthly assignment was fulfilled. In 1995, she would continue her devotion to development as a Christian disciple under the newly installed Pastor Shaun L. Moton. Inspired by the Spirit of God throughout his pastoral assignment, her hunger and thirst for righteousness were intensified.  Fulfilling this hunger and thirst would strengthen her resolve to serve the Lord in more ways than one could number. Anywhere her heart and hands could serve, she readily put them to work. Among so many areas of ministry in which she invested were: Bus Ministry, Sunday School, Bible Study, Music Ministry, and Prayer Band, to name a few.

The spice of her witness was in her personality. The fragrance of her inimitable character was in her immutable love and infectious laughter.

Her personal convictions' priceless impression and undeniable influence were nurtured and matured whenever her knowledge of Christ-like virtues collided with challenges confronting her Christian experience. To be sure, she was always ready for a fight for right, no matter who was in the wrong. Far from a quiet soul, she was positively boisterous and the Life of every praise party.

Her love for the Lord directed her love for her family and all others. A woman of stern convictions, she taught and demanded the children of her family be respectful at all times as a token of reverence for the Lord. Her love for her pastor and church was only second to her love for her family and the Lord. The pride of her life was in its most significant attainment, which was the salvation of her soul.

As her physical health began to decline, her gratitude for the Grace of God opened no doors for a single complaint. When asked how she was feeling, her simple but certain response would be, "I'm fine."

On the evening of May 23, 2021, Sister Rosie Faye Portilla embraced the living call of her Lord to enter His eternal Presence. Her talk of Faith was in her Walk of Faith. This we may know is how she fought the good Fight and Finished her earthly course. She kept the Faith!

Among those preceding her deliverance from this earthly realm are her parents, Jessie Lee and Lillie Mae Boulding; siblings, Jessie, Leroy, Bennie, Edgar, Robert, and Lucille Boulding.

Among those who remain to anticipate the inevitable reunion at the return of our Lord is her Son, Russel Portilla, Killeen, Texas; siblings, Essie Vernon, Dessie Brown, and Billy Boulding (Shirley), all of Killeen, Texas; grandchildren, Deidre (Jacob) Eakin, Darrell Portilla Jr., Dorian Russel Portilla, all of Dallas, Texas, RaShonda & Sharhonda Portilla, both of Cold Spring, Texas, and a host of other family members, loved ones and friends.