Rosa Vargas Carrington-Smith was born on June 22, 1927 to Octavio Vargas and Sebastiana Perez-Vargas in Colon, The Republic of Panama. She entered into her eternal rest on May 7, 2022. Rosa spent her formative years in her beloved Colon with her siblings, family, and friends. She loved to dance and to attend the dances held in town. She was educated at Abell Bravo High School, then went on to attend University of Panama City where graduated in 1950. While at the university, she studied to become a teacher of history and geography, and she spent a short time teaching in Panama. She loved her family very much, and they loved her as well. She often reminisced about her childhood and the happy times growing up with her siblings. These reflections often centered around the times spent in the bakery run by her father Octavio and the smell of fresh bakery bread. Her mother, Senora Sebastiana, knew everyone in the neighborhood and would generously give bread away and assist all those who came to her for help. Rosa, from time to time, would recall asking her mother "Why do you do so much to help everyone in the neighborhood?" her mother would fondly reply with a smile, "We should always help others. This act of helping others will one day come back to someone in my family who may be in need." Following her years in Panama, Rosa migrated to the United States by boat in 1958. Raised as a Catholic in Panama, Rosa continued her relationship with God once in the USA by attending Saint Katheryn Catholic Church. She was introduced to the Seventh-day Adventist message in the 1960s and was baptized soon after. She was a proud and active member of the City Tabernacle Seventh-day Adventist Church in Harlem, NY where her friends included church brothers and sisters such as Sis. Davis, Elder Bosweld Delisser, Elder and Sis. Beazer, Ivy Otto, Mary McSween, Johnny Fiztpatick, Elder Evelyn Simons and a host of others that are too many to mention--some whom are now also resting in Jesus. Rosa and her friends spent many years canvassing and evangelizing the neighborhood surrounding City Tabernacle Church, giving out tracks, and praying with individuals who were seeking the love of Christ. She always carried a Bible track in her bag or pockets, and she worked diligently with Personal Ministry and her Deaconess departments of her church. Rosa even became one of the founding deaconesses when the tiny New Hope SDA Mission was formed from an evangelistic crusade between City Tabernacle and Ephesus Seventh-day Adventist Churches in New York City. The New Hope Mission eventually became the New Hope SDA Church, and Rosa was a steadfast member who continued in her evangelism work through the church initiative called Doorbell Operation. Her deaconess duties also continued until into her 80's when her failing health caused her to give up her post. Though she retired from the deaconess ministry, she kept faithful to her evangelism work, sharing a track or two along with the gospel wherever she went. When she arrived in the U.S., she lived in Brooklyn, NY and worked in the Garment District in Manhattan as a seamstress. Rosa eventually left the Garment District and took a job working at the main post office in Manhattan, New York. While at the post office, because of her evangelistic spirit and friendly demeanor, she met her beloved husband, Peter Smith. They married in August, 1992 at the Voice of Prophecy Crusade under the leadership of Pastor J. Kendal Guy. Peter was the joy of her life and they enjoyed each other very much. They spent quality time at the Jewish Center where Rosa practiced her painting and a host of other crafts. Peter was always quietly nearby listening to his music. She enjoyed life with her husband and tended to him until he passed away in 2013. Though he was gone, Rosa would never let you forget with a smile that her last name was "Smith." Rosa was fluent in both Spanish, her native language, and English, her adopted language. She loved to learn any and everything which is why teaching suited her. She felt it was very important for her to learn English, so she worked very hard to master it. Rosa also loved music. She had a melodious voice, and she loved to sing. She sang in the choir with her friends in church. She would always find joy singing a part of her favorite Bible passage found in Psalms 23:6. In addition to music, Rosa loved to travel with her friends and husband. Some of the places she had the opportunity to visit included England, Canada, and Bermuda. She even had the luxury to cruise the many Islands of the Caribbean. Following her mother Senora Sebastiana's kindhearted and generous nature, Rosa also assisted many individuals by sharing the gospel, helping with tuition, providing shelter during emergency situations, or just blessing them with thoughtful gifts. She was a true blessing to others. Mama Rosa, Tia Rosa, Sis. Rosa, Rosa as she was affectionately called by many even in the last years of her life, never stopped witnessing for God. Nursing home residents and staff recounted how Rosa would give a hearty, "Amen" any time anyone in the nursing home did something for her. In her last moments of life, Rosa had the privilege to hear the voices of some friends and family that loved and cherished her. As she prepared for her final rest in Jesus she was comforted by the prayers of a former pastor, her favorite scriptures found in Psalms 23 and Psalms 91, and one of her favorite songs, "Under His Wings." She responded favorably to all with a head nod or a hand squeeze. She now rests in Jesus and awaits the great return of our Lord and Savior. She leaves to cherish her memory, her beloved niece, Fella, a host of nieces and nephews, in-laws, close friends, and her New Hope Church and City Tabernacle church families, all of whom will miss her dearly.