Ida Ross-Freeman, affectionately known as "Ms Ida," aged 77, transcended after a long battle with sarcoidosis on July 26th, 2024, at her home. She was born on December 27th, 1946, in Uniontown, AL, to Mary C. Sanders-Polk and James Samuel Ross II. She was a resident of Stark County for over 50 years, and served her community with unparalleled civic activism and dedication to social justice. She was a woman of the people. Ms Ida co-founded Canton Juneteenth, implemented various mental health and reentry programs, founded the Stark County Urban Minority Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Outreach Project, better known as SCUMADAOP. She fostered and provided respite for many children throughout NE Ohio. She lead and organized Project E.L.S.I.E. (Empowering Lives Support in Education), which included candlelit vigils for deceased victims of violence. Ms Ida was one of the 1st of 3 black women to serve on the Canton City Board of Education. She was an incredible woman, with an incredible heart; a voice for the voiceless. As an entrepreneur, she sold Afrocentric clothing, jewelry, and artwork at festivals and events all over Ohio. She enjoyed creating jewelry using African beads and dancing to bar room blues. Ms. Ida had a vibrant personality and zest for life. She is preceded in death by her parents, her eldest son, Dale, her sister, Mary, and her brother, Darryl. She is survived by her sons, Vaughn and Errick Freeman, her grandchildren, Mosiah, Iminah, Sadirah, Osah, Ixiah, and Indyeahnah (all last-named Freeman), and one great grandchild, her siblings, Dino, Veronica, Genny, Delivia, Roosevelt, many cousins, nieces, nephews, and her beloved pets Snuggles and Sadie. Friends and family are invited to call on Saturday, August 17th. Services will be held at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, 700 Market Ave South, Canton, OH. Visitation from 11am - 12pm followed by a Celebration of Life. In honor of her legacy, a fund has been established to serve as a philanthropic effort for various programs and community groups that Ms. Ida believed in, led, or supported. She was very aware of how funding was often unequally distributed amongst organizations that strive to help improve our communities and neighborhoods. This fundraiser will ensure equitable distribution to those community organizations. DONATE: www.gofundme.com/f/ms-ida-forever