Rose Hughes-Dawson was born in Cleveland, Ohio on May 12, 1951 to her parents Rose McKnight and Walter McKnight. She confessed Christ at age 35 where she was baptized at King Solomon in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She received her education at Hopkinsville High in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

Rose later met and married Phillip Dawson in Jacksonville, Florida.

She departed this life on Saturday, February 18, 2023.

Rose leaves to mourn her passing: daughter, Kimberly Williams; son, Lloyd McKnight; grandchildren, Tori Davis, Trevon Williams, Tiara McKnight, Shaianne McKnight, Breann Jenkins, Troy Jenkins, Lloyd T. McKnight; great-grandchildren, Elias McGraw, Tori D. Davis; and sister, Phillis Leavell-Williams.