Rollins Edwards Obituary

Memories of Rollins Edwards celebration of life will forever be a part of our lives. His death-driven struggles of the 2nd World War and then returing home to improve his local community in Summerville, SC, will continue to be a part of our faithfulness.

In Memoriam, Rollins Edwards' legacy lives on today. And, may his incredible good earthly deeds continue to live on in our hearts and memories.

Celebrating a life well lived. We will cherish the memories forever.

Juanita, I am so sorry for your lost of your dear beloved husband Rollings. Carrie & I sending prayers of comfort & love. Cousin Jonathan Duren

Juanita and all my family in Summerville:

Not only was Rollins a great man and loved in our family, he has left a great impact in the United States with his unwavering good character in handling turmoils of his life. Our memories of him will not cease...we will not forget.

Dearest Juanita, my family extend heartfelt sympathy to you and your family during your loss. We pay the utmost honor and tribute to Mr. Rollins for the man he was while here and earth. The lives he touched through his love and compassion for people, as well as the contributions he made. And just to mention the experience he shared in his recent book "Burned" I will always cherish and remember the day he signed and gave it to me from his hand to mine last summer at the Duren Reunion gathering. I know that he lived a life that was pleasing to God and the angels in heaven are rejoicing and welcoming him. A veteran and a living legend. He honorably served his country and left a legacy. We love you and pray Gods continued blessings upon you and your family. Love Will Jr./Eunice Stradford and family

My Dearest Juanita, I was saddened to hear the news of your sweetheart. When I saw you all recently at a local outing, you both looked so well.
I have so much respect and admiration for the two of you.
I regret that I could not attend the Home-Going services, due to my holiday travels.

The Honorable Rollins Edwards is a legend, a role model, a pioneer. He will be missed.

Sister Juanita and family: Some men are great, well dressed and pleasantly handsome not in looks, not in what is said either, but in a walk that displays what is in the heart. Their greatness is shown through their pathway of Love & Charity for mankind. This has been displayed through Mr. Rollins and your life. You both have always been dedicated to Loving others, Charity and Truth. Continue to have faith amidst your heartaches and look upward to God. Joy will come and the sun will shine soon on you and your family. My prayers are with you. Be well!
Much Love - Charles & Elizabeth Brock

To the Edwards family, you have my deepest sympathy, Mr. Edwards was one of the kindest patients I have had the privilege to take care of, an amazing veteran, sleep in peace.

My prayers are with the Edwards family. Hold on to God's unchanging hands.

Mr. Rollins Edwards it was a blessing to meet and know you and Mrs Edwards! We know that you are resting in God's arms. Our sincere condolences to the entire family Mr & Mrs Leroy Shecut

Family of Mr.Edwards,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this time of bereavement. May you feel God's love, comfort and strength in a special way in the days, weeks and months to come.

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

My thoughts and prayers to the (my)family and friends.

Mr. Rollins was a gracious gentleman and it had been an honor to speak with
many times over the past 3 years, when I was the volunteer curator at the Summerville-Dorchester Museum. Mr Rollins participated and attended many functions . His association with the "Count Basie" orchestra was well known
and his music much appreciated, especially by my self, having been married to a
musician at one time. Mr. Rollins presence will be sorely missed.

My condolences to his wife and family

Rest in Peace, Mr. Edwards. You were an acquaintance of my father, the late Rev. Dr. Lewis H. Simmons and my cousin, the late Freddie Greene of the Count Basie Orchestra. I remember your get-togethers talking about your old days in New York with all of your Jazz Buddies.
We will miss you, but we'll see you in the morning.

Sammie and Ernestine Simmons and Family

To Juanita Edwards and Family. Please know that God understands your hurt and is reaching out in love to help new hope and healing begin. The SC Duren Reunion Committee.

May the Angles in heaven blowing their trumpets and salute you for a job well done by a faithful servant, as he journey in the heaven's gate, to the family of Mr Rollins Edwards,we all will miss this Great leader.we will continue to lift all of you in prayers.

On behalf of our family and all military veterans, We Salute you SIR!
Alphonso & Deloris Harrison

TO:SISTER JUANITA EDWARDS & FAMILY:
WINSTON CHURCHILL WROTE;
WE MAKE A LIVING BY WHAT WE GET;
BUT WE MAKE A LIFE BY WHAT WE GIVE:
THIS QUOTE,IN MY OPINION,CLEARLY IDENTIFIES
GRAND MASTER EDWARDS; FOR HIS LIFE WAS NOT
ABOUT WHAT HE COULD GET,BUT WHAT HE COULD
GIVE: GOD BLESSED HIM TO SERVE (& GIVE) IN ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE: AND FOR THAT, I AM PERSONALLY GREATFUL TO HIM AND TO GOD FOR
ALLOWING US TO HAVE MET IN 1973:
HIS DEEP DIMENSION OF DIGNITY AND DECENCY,
HIS LOYALTY AND INTEGRITY WAS ALL A LIVING
TESTAMENT OF NOT JUST A STATESMAN, BUT A
SERVANT OF GOD: I HAD THE PLEASURE OF
SERVING AS DEPUTY GRAND MARSHALL OF THE
M.W.P.H.G. LODGE DURING HIS ADMINISTRATION:
I SHALL FOREVER CHERISH HIS GODLY
MANNERISM AND MULTI TALENTED,ARTICULATE
WISDOM:
REST IN PEACE:
LEON N.(VIRGINIA) RICHBURG,SR.
CLARENDON COUNTY
VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICE
MANNING,SOUTH CAROLINA

There is no greater honor than to serve your country and Mr Edwards gave it all...from birth until death, he is the Greatest Generation. I salute you, Sir.
George Patton Waters

To the family and friends of Mr. Rollins Edwards

Please know that Mr. Rollins will always be remembered by me as being a brave prudent man who was genuine in caring for the welfare of others. Although I have spent most of my adult life away from Summerville while serving in the U. S. Army, I tried to stay in touch with Mr. Rollins by visiting him whenever I was in town or at times calling him. I enjoyed his sage comments and perspectives.

I want to relate a couple of experiences I had with Mr. Rollins.

A few years ago, while researching my great-great grandfather Private Jordan Swindel's military service in the Civil War, as a member of the U. S. Colored Troops, I came across the name of Sergeant George Duffy. I discovered George and Jordan fought together in battles during the Civil War. Both men mustered out of the Army in 1866 while serving in Summerville and decided to settle there as neighbors on what is now Pidgeon Bay Road. (They were also members of the founding fathers of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Summerville.) I then discovered that Sergeant Duffy had a daughter who grew up and eventually married Mr. John Edwards, Rollins' parents. As a child growing up, I remembered Mr. John and Mrs. Annie, but not Mr. Rollins.

About three years ago I approach Mr. Rollins about the information I had discovered about his grandfather, and he basically confirmed for me that Sergeant Duffy was from the New Bern, N. C. area, the same place where Private Swindel was from. He told me that he remembered his relatives receiving correspondence referencing George Duffy from the War Department, Washington, DC. He also mentioned that he vividly remembers going up to New Bern as a child to visit relatives.

Finally, while talking with Mr. Rollins more recently, he related to me something I was not aware of. He told me that that he, along with Mr. Chris Fishburne, Mr. Bootsy Fishburne, and Mr. Fowler risked their lives on the night of February 8, 1968 by driving up to Orangeburg, S. C. They went up after hearing about the killing of three students and wounding of 28 others at S. C. State University. Two of the wounded students, me and another student were from Summerville. Mr. Rollins and the others parked their car and courageously walked into the city limits with the intent of helping to alleviate the strife. However, they were detained by the law authorities and placed in a barbed wire compound. Their lives were at risk. However, they were released the next day without being physically harmed.

I will truly miss Mr. Rollins. May God continue to grant his family members the grace and strength during this time.

I had the honor of meeting Mr. Edwards earlier this year at The Timrod Library when his book was published. He was a remarkable man and will be missed. His legacy will live on in the lives of all he touched and influenced. My condolences to his loved ones and prayers for comfort and peace.

RE: ROLLINS EDWARDS 1922- 2017
I CAME TO KNOW MR. EDWARDS BACK IN 1963 SHORTLY AFTER HE RETURNED TO SUMMERVILLE AND OPENED BELMONT DRY CLEANERS. I WAS SENT TO HIM BY ALSTON HIGH SCHOOL BANDMASTER, JOHNNY DEVOE. MR. DEVOE WANTED ME TO PLAY DRUMS IN A JAZZ COMBO HE WAS FORMING TO PLAY AT BASKETBALL GAMES. I RECALL THE KIND AND GENTLE MR. ROLLINS WELCOMED ME INTO HIS HOME FOR SEVERAL LESSONS TEACHING ME TO PLAY HIS FULL SET (16 PCS) OF PROFESSIONAL DRUMS.
SOME 50 YEARS LATER I WOULD VISIT WITH ROLLINS AND JAUNITA EDWARDS WHEN HE INFORMED ME THAT HE STILL HAD THAT SET OF DRUMS IN HIS GARAGE. WE TALKED ABOUT HIS YEARS AS A PROFESSIONAL JAZZ MUSICIAN AND HOW HE WOULD COME TO PLAY WITH COUNT BASIE AND OTHER JAZZ GREATS. AT THE END OF NOVEMBER WE REENGAGED FOR THE LAST TIME ON A PROJECT OF DOCUMENTING THE BLACK HISTORY OF SUMMERVILLE. IT WAS ESPECIALLY HEART WARMING FOR HIM TO SAY HOW MUCH HE ENJOYED SPEAKING WITH ME ABOUT JAZZ MUSIC BECAUSE HE REARLY TALKS TO ANYONE WITH AN APPRECIATION OF IT.
IN ADDITION TO MY PERSONAL CONDOLENCES, I WANT TO THANK HIM AND JUANITA FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY TO DRIVE ME TO THE CITE OF THE ORIGINAL BANK GRADE SCHOOL WHICH HE ATTENDED, IN OUR SEARCH OF THE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER BLACK LIBRARY BUILDING. MR. ROLLINS WAS A TREMENDOUS AND HISTORIC FIGURE IN OUR SUMMERVILLE COMMUNITY THAT WILL BE FOREVER MISSED.

R.I.P. ROSEY GAYMON - SUGARHILL

With service at two levels of local government, Rollins set a sterling example of what being a good citizen and contributing to the community means. Well done, good and faithful servant.

Rutherford Smith

It is such a blessing to have met such a courageous man and to personally hear and read about the struggles he had overcome. May the astounding achievements he shared with us carry many to success. Prayers of comfort to his family and friends. May he sleep in peace until we see him again.

I am fortunate to have met Rollins and Juanita Edwards and thrilled to have painted his portrait to help tell his story. He was a man of incredible stature and lived a life that few understand but all must learn from. Read Michael Owens book "Burned: Conversations with a Black World War II Veteran." He was a resilient and strong role model. Thank you for sharing your survivor story and may it never happen again.

I met Mr. Edwards through my brother at the veterinary clinic. He was a wonderful person considering everything he had gone through. It was my pleasure to get to know him. The world lost a great man.

Mr. Rollins was a giant of a man. A man who loved his family, his City of Summerville, his Dorchester County, his State of South Carolina, his beloved United States of America, his Masonic Lodge, The Shriner's and above all his Almighty God. For over 27 years of serving in state and local politics, on many- many occasions I would go by his home or Laundry Mat to ask him for advise or just sit and talk with him and his beloved wife. I always left with his wise wisdom and his honest and straight answers to all my questions. Yes, he was a one Giant of a gentleman. Our God has another Angel. Thanks for being there for me. I will miss you Mr. Rollins. To God be the Glory. Dorchester County Councilmen George H. Bailey

AHS, Our Rollins Edwards, Generationally Strong, Made ALL of Proud. "Alston High, Dear Alston High, Set your colors waving,
Garnet and Blue; oh we see their hue,
High standards ever craving,
With Loyalty and honor, too,
Devotion, love and service true;
Has been our aim, always to claim
Alston High, Dear Alston High." --- Marshall Willis Ketchens SR. AHS,1943

Alston High School Class of 1964

To the family, loved ones and friends of Mr. Rollins Edward, we send our most sincere condolences and prayers to you at this time. Rollins was truly one of the greatest soldiers and survivors of World War II. May his legacy continue to enlighten and encourage ALL of Us. For he will be missed for many generations yet to come.

All the pain and grief is over, every restless tossing passed; I am now at peace forever, Safely Home in Heaven at Last. ---Safely Home

Singleton Drayton Flood Families, USA

We always thought Rollins was a wonderful man and we feel honored to have known him for many years. He was liked by all who knew him and I know he will be missed by many.

Rest in Peace sir.

Although I didn't know Mr Edwards, as a serving member I felt it my duty to pass on my condolences to friends and family of this amazing man.

His story is both heartbreaking and inspiring.

Thank-you for your service and I'm sorry for the pain you had to endure. And thank you for your service to your community.

A truly great man has left this earth. May he Rest In Peace.

Condolences to the family and thank you for your service.

Greetings from Toronto, Canada. Yesterday a friend in DC shared the news that WWII veteran passed away. I am saddened to learn that this brave man passed away but very grateful that he was able to share his story. My dad was Black WWII veteran and before he passed away he made me promise I would ensure that the stories of of Black veterans be captured.

Thanking professor Michael Owens who in published the book "Burned: Conversations with a Black World War II Veteran." I shall be getting a copy. Prayers and condolences to the family.

Rollins Edwards was a man that I had the privilege to get to know. He brought so much importance to my life. Whenever I felt sad and unworthy, he told me that I was worthy and I meant a lot to this world. He also encouraged me to stop feeling sorry for myself. I learned so much from his enriching speeches and wonderful teachings. RIP Bro. Rollins Edwards. You will be missed.

Rollins Edwards was a true Summerville legendary local. I enjoyed his visits to the Summerville Museum!