Barbara Ann "Jones" Rollings

Barbara Ann (Jones) Rollings of Due West, wife of James Edward (Eddie) Rollings and daughter of the late Harry B. Jr. and Sybil M. Jones of Due West passed on Saturday, December 21, 2019 at Self Regional Healthcare in Greenwood. Surrounded by her loving family, she slipped the bonds of Earth and joined her Lord and Savior, family and friends in Heaven.

Mrs. Rollings was born in Charleston April 4th, 1942, and immediately became the mascot for her father’s National Guard unit as they joined the fight of World War II. She resided at Shriner’s Hospital in Greenville early to deal with the first of medical issues she battled and conquered throughout her life. She also resided in the Level Land community, Greenville, various communities in Austria, Charlotte NC, Florence and Darlington SC and in Due West the last 25 years of her life.

Mrs. Rollings is survived by the following: her husband Eddie of the home, her very special nieces, who were more daughters to her, Jeannie (Bill) Capps of Abbeville, Thelma (Steve) Mellin of Bourne, MA., Heidi (Dave) Davinroy of Charleston, her very special aunt Barbara Ann McWhorter of Due West, her sister Rosemary Craig of Greenville, her brother and sister-in-law Larry (Martha) Jones of Sutter Creek, CA., sister-in-law and brother-in-law Jean Galloway and Terry Smith of Rock Hill, brother-in-law Sam Rollings of Darlington, brother-in-law and sister-in-law David “Rock” (Sherry) Rollings of Lamar, nephew Scott (Monica) Willis of Charlotte and her many cousins on both sides of her family.

Mrs. Rollings is also survived by a group of special friends: Pauline Stone of Donalds, Tamee McCall of Seneca, James (Hut) Hudson of Calhoun Falls, John and Ellen Duncan of Belton, Robin and Gary Baumgarner of Easley, Doug and Cheryl Starwalt of Anderson, Mark Hamrick of Greenwood, and the firefighters and members of Cold Spring Volunteer Fire Department, especially Jay Raber and Jacob Hershberger. She also had great affection for her favorite Walmart greeter, John Thompson of Greenwood, and her Charlotte neighbors Max and Glenda Skinner. She also had a very special friendship with Mary and Gunter Moragne of Greenwood.

Mrs. Rollings was preceded in death by her parents, her very special aunts, uncles and cousins from both the Jones family and McWhorter family throughout the Upstate, her mother-in-law Dorothy Lee (Sneed) Rollings of Darlington, her very special cousin Candy McWhorter of Due West and her very special niece Stephanie Jones of Los Angeles.

Barbara was a graduate of North Mecklenburg High School and attended Central Piedmont Community College of Charlotte. She also graduated from Darlington (SC) Career Center and was a Certified Master Gardener with Clemson University. She worked for B.F. Goodrich and Manufacturers Service Warehouse in Charlotte, and McCoy Lumber Company in Honea Path as a financial professional. She was a diehard Clemson Tigers fan and cheered wildly and proudly when they were on the field. She particularly loved running back Reggie Merriweather and quarterback Deshaun Watson. She also loved the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Oklahoma Sooners, Naval Academy Midshipmen and U.S. Military Academy Black Knights. Her favorite writer was her husband Eddie and the poems, stories and essays she shared with her; her favorite song was “Over The Rainbow”. She had a special love for the Shriners, Shriners Hospitals and the work they do for children.

Barbara possessed a personality and spirit as large as she was petite. She loved people and never met a stranger. She learned well the lessons of her parents of generosity, kindness, and giving. Her hundreds of both small and large gifts she gave over her life have impacted untold numbers of people everywhere. Almost every time she moved, she left small pieces of her life and possessions behind so that those who followed gained great benefit, often unknown to them. It did not matter if it was family, friend or stranger, she did for them. One of her greatest gifts was outfitting over 20 members, her personal heroes, of the Cold Spring VFD with new helmets in 2009; earning her the nickname “The Helmet Lady”.  She loved Christmas and always looked forward to passing out the Guideposts Daily Devotionals she gave as special gifts to friends and family.

Barbara was tough as nails, but as soft as the finest silk. Fearless and brave, she roamed the halls of the Pentagon as a young child “looking for her daddy”.

She survived cancer, diabetes, arthritis, life threatening medical complications, multiple injuries and medical procedures from her chronic conditions and battled heart disease at the end with all the strength and grace she possessed. You always knew where you stood with her. She had no hesitation telling you what she thought, but any criticism she delivered was always tempered with kindness at the appropriate time. She loved her Lord, and she knew with all her heart He loved her. She enjoyed travel, watching old movies and classic television, reading good books and enjoying the company of her family and friends. She was versatile, artistic, logical and highly intelligent. Her outspoken personality and love of Teddy Bears earned from her husband the loving nickname of “Feisty Bear”; she responded by always calling Eddie “Teddy Bear”. People would often stare with interest as Barbara and Eddie exchanged teasing but loving names “Queen” for her and “Genius” for him. One of her greatest and most proud accomplishments was helping her Eddie deal with severe dyslexia and working hand in hand with him to graduate from Clemson with honors as an engineer, helping him write papers, drill for tests, and provide her open and honest feedback on his efforts.

Barbara was petite, but her personality was giant. People she met decades earlier also immediately remembered her for her kindness and vibrant spirit. She made impacts that are still being felt to today and will continue to do so.

“Though our hearts are broken, and we weep for you, we know you are free of the pain of your human body as you soar over the rainbow to Heaven”.

The family will receive friends 5:00PM – 7:00PM, Friday, December 27, 2019 at Harris Funeral Home, Abbeville Chapel. A service to celebrate Barbara’s life will be 2:00PM, Saturday, December 28, 2019 in the funeral home chapel.

Memorial contributions, in memory of Barbara, may be sent to Cold Spring Volunteer Fire Department, c/o Ethan Zook, 1301 N. Main St., Abbeville, SC 29620 or to the Shriners Hospital for Children – Greenville, 950 W. Faris Rd., Greenville, SC 29605.

The family is at their respective homes.

A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com.

Harris Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Abbeville is assisting the Rollings family.

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