Bennie M. Rollins Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Bennie Mae Billups Rollins departed this life Sunday, May 22, 2022, at her home in St. Petersburg, Florida surrounded by loving family and caregivers. She was born March 12, 1939 in Aliceville, Alabama to the late Benjamin and Martha Steele Billups. Her parents and her brother and sisters preceded her in death. She attended Birmingham City public schools and graduated from A.H. Parker High School and graduated with a Bachelor of Art from Alabama A&M University and earned a Masters degree from Nova Southeastern. Bennie accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior and was baptized at a young age. In 1963, she was joined in holy matrimony with Israel Edward Rollins, Sr. and their union was blessed with the birth of two sons: Israel Jr., and Byron. Under the leadership of Dr. John A. Evans, Sr., Mrs. Rollins faithfully served Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in numerous capacities including Deaconess and the Women’s Sunday School Class. Mrs. Rollins grew up in Birmingham and later came to St. Petersburg and spent 38 years as a Pinellas County Schools classroom teacher, with most of her career instructing at Meadowlawn Middle School where she held the chair of the language arts department for many years. She had a reputation as a dedicated seventh grade English teacher often tutoring struggling students outside of class with former students often recognizing her in public and thanking her for her encouraging, yet firm instruction. Bennie leaves to cherish her memory her sons Israel Jr. and Byron and four grandchildren: Amber, Jamen, Ethan, and Asher and a host of loving nieces, nephews, dear relatives, and sorrowing friends.

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Bennie M. Rollins

March 12, 1933 - May 22, 2022