WAYCROSS — Mr. Robert Lee “Bobby” Rollins, Jr., 84, of Waycross died Thursday afternoon, December 15, 2022, at Southeast Georgia Health Systems in Brunswick after an extended illness.
Rollins was born in Greenwood, S.C., to the late Robert Lee Rollins, Sr., and Henrietta Stockman Rollins. He was a part of North Augusta High School’s championship football team for four years in addition to running track and singing in the men’s choir.
After graduating in 1956, Rollins enlisted in the U.S. Army where he was a squad leader and was honorably discharged after ascending to a Spec/5 rank.
Following his time in the Army, Rollins began working for the railroad. While working at CSX, he participated in many community events and fundraisers, coached football at Waycross schools, and ran a pest control business.
Rollins retired as general foreman at CSX Railroad in 1993 after working there for 33 years and becoming disabled. Post-retirement, he helped many railroad workers that had contracted asbestosis and other rare diseases by providing affidavits concerning his knowledge of toxic materials in use at CSX.
Despite his chronic pain and many health setbacks, Rollins’ days were happy and occupied with all of his hobbies and loves. He had a mind for engineering and a large imagination, which came in handy when he would work on the many cars he owned over the years.
He said that singing helped you live longer, so he enjoyed singing around the house and listening to all kinds of music. When Rollins saw live music, he enjoyed talking to musicians after shows and complimenting their performances.
Rollins read multiple newspapers a day, watched cable news, and was an avid public radio listener. Keeping up with current events and voting was really important to him. Rollins would take a break from watching the news whenever there was a football game on. He was especially a Georgia Bulldogs fan.
Rollins was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, but over the last few years enjoyed watching the Kettle Creek Church live-streams. He was especially proud of his children and talked about his children to anyone that would listen. He will be remembered as a sensitive and caring person with a heart full of forgiveness.
Along with his parents, Rollins was preceded in death by one sister, Eve Rollins.
He is survived by his wife, Linda Rollins of Waycross; three children, Virginia “Ginger” Rollins of Blackshear, Robert Lee “Robbie” Rollins III of Waycross and Joseph “Jody” Rollins of Waycross; one grandson, Brett Rollins of Moultrie; three great-grandchildren, Kamree Rollins, Chevy Rollins and Braelynne Grace Rollins; two stepchildren, Brenda Norman and her husband, Robbie, of Offerman, David Harrington of Blackshear; and numerous other relatives.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, December 23 in Oakland Cemetery.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.milesodumfuneralhome.com.
