Rosa Fraley, 89, a Distinguished Lady, church member

Decades ago, Rosa Fraley helped form an Atlanta social club called Distinguished Ladies.

She and her friends saved and pooled money to travel to places such as Florida, Canada and the Bahamas. They hosted annual Christmas parties for family and friends.

Mrs. Fraley was at the center of the Distinguished Ladies for 30 years.

“My mother loved that club,” said James N. Fraley Jr. of Atlanta. “They were all mothers, and all of them were members of Mount Moriah Baptist Church. They became the best of friends, just had a good time together.”

Rosa Pyron Fraley, 89, of Atlanta died of heart failure on Aug. 29 at South Fulton Hospital.

The funeral is noon today at Mount Moriah Baptist Church. Willie A. Watkins Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Besides the Distinguished Ladies, Mrs. Fraley had at least three other loves:

Her church. At Mount Moriah, where she was a member more than 50 years, she sang in the choir and served on the mothers’ board.

Her hats. She had at least 50, in different styles and colors. She never attended church hatless. “She came from that part of the world and that era when you didn’t go to church without a hat,” Mr. Fraley said. “The last Sunday she attended church, she wore a white hat.”

Her family. And not just her biological children. Mrs. Fraley opened her home to dozens of foster children. In fact, one of them, now an adult, is scheduled to talk about her kindness and generosity during today’s funeral.

“Most of those foster children turned out to be real successful,” said her daughter, Jean F. Redwine of Atlanta. Another daughter, Edna F. Jordan, of Atlanta, also survives.

— Rick Badie