May 8, 2011

Viola Rawls Rollings, 91, formerly of Suffolk, departed this life Sunday, May 8, 2011, at Lakewood Manor in Richmond.

Born in Suffolk on June 15, 1919, she was the daughter of the late Felton Councill Rawls and the late Carrie Buxton Kay Rawls.

She was preceded in death in 1987 by her husband of 44 years, James Spratley Rollings Jr., and by her sister, Barbara Rawls Darden, in 2007.

She is survived by her daughter, Betsy Rollings Foster and her husband, Chris; two granddaughters, Katherine Foster Jimenez and her husband, Andy, Anne Foster Bachmann and her husband, Keith; great-granddaughters, Gabriella and Ariana Jimenez; and nephew Charles Darden and his wife, Yvonne.

She graduated from Suffolk High School in 1938 and attended business school at the Norfolk division of the College of William and Mary.

She was a member of the Suffolk Christian Church for 65 years and a member of the choir for 57 years until she moved to Richmond in 2006.

The family especially wants to thank the staff at Lakewood Manor for their abiding care over these past five years.

A memorial service led by the Rev. Michael D. Halley will be held at the Suffolk Christian Church at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 14, followed by a reception in the fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Suffolk Christian Church, 216 N. Main St., Suffolk, VA 23434.