Toft Funeral Home and Crematory
2001 Columbus Ave
Sandusky, OH 44870
Phone: 419-625-8816
Website: http://www.toftfh.com
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Roxye was born September 8, 1934, to Lem and Naomi (Rushing) O'Neal, in the Queensland Community of Fitzgerald, Georgia. Roxye was the youngest and the last of her three siblings to leave home for Miami, Florida, where her sisters Rosetta and Mary moved. There Roxye met her first husband, Alan Lane, from which her first son, Morris, was born. Over time, the union did not last and while still living in the Miami area, Roxye eventually met Emmett Twine.
Like many other African-American men and women living in the south during the 1950s and 1960s, Emmett went north to work in the newly built car factories that sprung up in Ohio and Michigan. Soon other children came as a result of Emmett and Roxye's union. Anthony, then twins Naomi and David, and then Richard.
While raising five children, Roxye held various jobs from Nurse's Aide to retail sales, to factory work. Roxye tried to become what she wanted her children to become, independent adults who treated others fairly and with compassion. This was not always an easy task due to cost-of-living fluctuations, employment challenges and eventually health challenges. Roxye developed medical issues that rendered her disabled starting in the mid to late 70s through the end of her life. So, work became out of the question for Roxye as she continued to raise her children. Never wavering in her commitment to raising her children, she developed life-long friendships with local farmers where she had access to fresh vegetables and fruits to feed her children. Roxye also loved to go fishing in Castalia for her favorite catch, Blue-Gill fish. In addition to the fresh vegetables, fruits and fish, she would occasionally throw in some barbecue venison calling it barbecue beef. Maybe Morris and Tony knew that it wasn't beef, but the three younger kids ate it and never knew any different until years later. Roxye loved to cook and she became well-known in the family for her famous fried chicken. Whenever Roxye went to Miami to visit her sisters and their husbands, she could not come back to Sandusky without making her famous fried chicken.
Roxye eventually accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and consistently prayed for all of her children to get saved. She volunteered at the local Red Cross and was a Poll Worker for the Erie County Board of Elections. She had her own cable television program where she interviewed local people of interest. Roxye loved to talk and interact with people.
Roxye was preceded in death by her father, Lem O'Neal, mother, Naomi (Rushing) O'Neal, former husbands, Alan Lane, and Emmett Twine, her older brother John O'Neal, her older sisters and their spouses Rosetta (Wesley) Lee and Mary (Tommie) Gadson. She is survived by her five children and their spouses, Morris Lane, Anthony "Tony" (Mindy) Twine, Naomi Twine, David (Tonya) Twine and Richard Twine. She also has six grandchildren Zacorie Twine, Jasmine Pace, Alexander Twine, Christian Twine, Gabriana Wrumb, and MacKenzie Dominguez. She also has seven great-grandchildren and many extended family.
January 16, 2023, at the age of 88, Roxye made her transition to Glory. May she rest in peace with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Friends may call on Saturday, January 28, 2023, from 10 A.M. until time of a Celebration of her Life at 12 P.M. Noon in Toft Funeral Home & Crematory, 2001 Columbus Ave., Sandusky.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Red Cross, Erie County Senior Center - Meals on Wheels Program, the American Diabetes Association, or Walk to End Alzheimer's - Erie Shores Committee.
Condolences may be made to the family by visiting toftfuneralhome.com.
