Steve Johnson

Rose Columbus Hoffman (1907-1988) – Rose was born January 15, 1907 in New Jersey to an Italian family, father Christopher Columbus and mother Carmela Pinto Columbus. Rose died March 27, 1988, at age 81. She is buried in Edgemont Cemetery in Anniston, AL. Her siblings were Lucille “Lucy” Courtland Simon (1902-1981), Christopher Lewis Columbus (1904-1991), Marie Estelle “Stella” Courtland Bonner (1909-1962) and Michael Salvatore Courtland (1911-1989). Several of the siblings had their surname legally changed to Courtland. Michael told me it was because they were “tired of being made fun of” by those who thought Columbus was a funny last name. Rose was promised by her family to marry an older Italian man. She didn't like him and sought to flee her home. She was working in a thread plant and put a marriage proposal in a box of spools, explaining her desperate situation and seeking a more desirable suitor. Leo Hoffman found Rose's letter inside a box of spools at the Anniston, AL, cotton mill where he worked. He was brave enough to accept Rose's marriage proposal, which included a picture of her that he liked. She had a nice smile, nice eyes and long, curly dark hair. Leo wrote her back and told her to “come on down to Alabama” and become his bride. They married April 9, 1929, in Anniston, AL. They got along fairly well, considering the cultural differences. Rose was a feisty, loud and talkative woman, who often fussed with him. She served him fresh homemade bread, which he loved, however. Rose's parents didn't realize how far Alabama was and would sometimes send packages of food. Rose told a story of receiving a chicken from them once. She said she opened the box and it was green and smelled really bad. Occasionally Rose's siblings would visit and she would treat them to a big Italian meal. Ruth says there was jealousy between her and Rose, however. Ruth was a “daddy's girl” and was Leo's pride and joy. Ruth says this made Rose jealous and she was sorry to say they did not have a very close mother-daughter relationship. She says her mother was “cold” to her and didn't teach her how to cook. She says they fussed and fought a lot. They became closer when Ruth had children, however. Rose would come down and work real hard, staying for a week or so until Ruth got back on her feet and got settled in with her new babies.