Grace Crum Rollins

Family-Placed Death Notice

ROLLINS, Grace Crum GRACE CRUM ROLLINS Grace Crum Rollins, born on September 22,1910, passed away peacefully at Emory Hospital on August 8, 2009 after an extended illness. She was a gardener, a philanthropist and amateur painter, but when asked to describe her life, Mrs.. Rollins referred to her roles as wife and mother as her most important achievements. "I have lived a simple life," said Mrs. Rollins, married for over six decades to the late O. Wayne Rollins. Those who knew Mrs. Rollins by reputation alone might be surprised by her statement. After all, she had been the wife of one of the nation's most successful business men. From the beginning Grace and Wayne were a formidable team. After laboring for many years at various jobs in nearby Chattanooga, Tennessee, Mrs. Rollins supported her husband's decision to strike out on their own. After a foray into the bottled water business, Wayne regrouped and opened a radio station in Radford, Virginiai There would be other businesses as well: pest control, oil and gas services, security systems and a boat company. Wayne always credited his wife's unwavering faith in him as one of the most important reasons for his business success. The Rollins Family has for generations been a generous benefactor to Emory University, Young Harris College and Peachtree Road United Methodist Church. After her husband's death in 1991, Mrs. Rollins continued their philanthropy by establishing a new home for Emory's School of Public Health, which is now called the Rollins School of Public Health. The inaugural public health building is named for Grace Crum Rollins. On May 5, 1995, Emory University presented Grace Crum Rollins with an honorary Doctor of Human Letters degree, calling her a "dedicated humanitarian" and a "woman of remarkable devotion, kindness, modesty and sprit." Mrs. Rollins leaves behind two sons, Randall and Gary and daughter-in-laws Peggy and Ruthie, 10 grandchildren (one deceased), and 26 great grandchildren. Visitation will be from 6 to 8p.m. on Monday, August 10 at Patterson Spring Hill. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, August 11 at 2 p.m. at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends after the service in the Felilowship Hall of the Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory university or Peachtree Road United Methodist Church.