Dr. George E. Rolle, Sr.
Passed 02/02/2023
A public viewing will be Friday, February 10, 2023 from 4:00-8:00PM at Willie A. Watkins Historic West End Chapel. Alpha Phi Alpha Omega Service will begin at 7:00PM in our chapel.
George Elliston Rolle, Sr., born January 9, 1940 in Over-Town Miami, Florida, was the second of five (5) children to the late Ruth Higgs Parlins and Frederick Stanley Rolle. He received his early education in Miami, Florida and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1957. After graduating, he attended Knoxville College, in Knoxville, TN for one year; Miami Dade Jr. College, where he graduated in 1963 with an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts. In 1963, he further integrated the University of Miami, Miami, FL and graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts in Education and in 1968 with a Master of Arts in Education. He continued his academic pursuits at Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, where he graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling and Educational Psychology in 1975.
George spent his life as a faithful servant of Christ where he regularly attended and faithfully served in the Episcopal, United Methodist, and African Methodist Episcopal Zion churches.
He lived as a student, teacher, mentor, and counselor, and taught for over two decades at the University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA in the psychology department and retired as Professor Emeritus of Counseling and Education Psychology and Assistant to the Dean of Education. He also worked for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Georgia State University, Tulane University, and Miami Dade County Schools.
He was a proud founding member and brother of the Rho Pi Lambda chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and was active in the mission and pursuit of providing service and advocacy for the community.
During his lifetime, he truly overcame the odds, living through circumstances that many could never imagine, enduring hardships, challenges, and fighting battles, so that others wouldn’t have to. He broke barriers, blazed trails, and found ways to fight oppression, injustice and inequality. He worked tirelessly in the field of academia, always learning, while teaching, advocating for, and counseling those, who could then in turn help others.
George transitioned to eternal rest on Thursday, February 2, 2023. He leaves to cherish his memory, his five “legacies”: George E. Rolle, Jr. (Trish Mason), Deborah Rolle-Mathis (Eddie Mathis), Darian Rolle (Desiree Robinson), Marcellus Rolle (Angela Oncken-Rolle), and Thaddeus Rolle (Erin Rolle). He is also survived by his grandchildren: Brian Rolle, Jared Rolle, LaKia Mathis-Hill (Travis Hill), LaKeisha Mathis-Day (Ryan Day), Eddie Mathis Jr., Nadia Rolle, and Eloise Hartman Rolle, and eleven great-grandchildren; his sisters Sabrina Johnson-White (late brother-in-law, Irving White), Debra Johnson, his brother, Ernest Aubrey Johnson, and Marthel Parlins, widow of his late brother Walter Parlins; a large supportive family of cousins, nieces, nephews, and his life-long friend/“brother from another mother” -- Arthur Demeritt. George shared his time, love, and life with the late Marie Louise Payne Rolle, Dr. Addie Shopshire-Rolle, and Ms. Pat Callis.
For those not able to attend in person on Saturday, February 11, 2023, the Celebration of Life service can be viewed online here: https://shawtemple.org/watch-live
In memory of Dr. George E. Rolle, Sr., donations to some of his favorite organizations can be made here: https://everloved.com/life-of/dr-george-rolle-sr/donate/?flow=201