Obituary for Linda Bennett-Rollins
Linda Bennett Rollins was the only child and source of life’s greatest joy to her mother Carolyn G. and her father Paul L. Bennett who preceded her in death.
She accepted Christ in early childhood at St. Paul Baptist Church where she joined in Sunday School classes and other youth activities. She united with New Bethel Baptist Church during her early teen years.
Linda grew up in Marshall and attended Holy Spirit Catholic School and Marshall Public Schools. After graduating from Marshall High School in 1976, she enrolled in East Texas State University (now Texas A&M Commerce) where she was initiated into the Theta Nu Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She received the Bachelor of Science degree in 1979.
Linda joined Mt. Hebron Baptist Church where she worked in Sunday School, Usher Board and Mission auxiliaries. She also affiliated with North Dallas Suburban Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., working with community service initiatives.
She moved to Dallas to enter the world of work! At Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, she worked full-time as a Customer Service Representative (CSR) for 20 years until the job was outsourced. She also worked part-time at Sears and Joske’s in Dallas before returning to Marshall.
This relocation was highlighted with her marriage to Deryel T. Rollins, a former schoolmate and very dear friend.
Linda resumed her service to her church, sorority, and the Marshall community. She used her cooking and crafts skills by assisting her mother with conducting monthly visits while supplying special holiday favors for Marshall Manor Residents and honoring veterans with flag-placement at Old Powder Mill Cemetery. Additional support of her sorority’s Marshall Alumnae Chapter included chairing Community Outreach/Nursing Home, Policies and Procedures, and working with Audit, Program Planning and Development, and advising Delta Academy and GEMS members and Jabberwock participants.
At New Bethel, she served on the Usher Board and participated in the Sunday School and mission ministries. She was a faithful worker in the Mission Open Kitchen and served as Facilitator of the Sisterhood Class, a monthly Bible study organized for adult women.
She was lovingly cared for by her husband and his Family; her sister in Christ and in Delta, Hazel Lillian Phillips; and her sisters/cousins, Stacey Cato and Karen M. Lester.
She lives in the memory of her husband and her mother; mother-in-law, Mary Johnson; step-daughters: Elisa Rudd-Morris, Mary Rudd-Wilder, and Shakayla Jenkins; step-sons, Terrance Rudd and Damian Jenkins all of Marshall, Texas; six sisters-in-law, three brothers-in-law; 11 grand-children; 2 great grand-children, all of Marshall, TX; aunts: Carlys Bays, Culver City, CA and Joycelyn Mazen, Shreveport, LA; uncles, James (Dinah) Gardener, Jr., North Kingstown, RI and Walter McPhail, Shreveport, LA; and a host of beloved cousins and extended family.
She accepted Christ in early childhood at St. Paul Baptist Church where she joined in Sunday School classes and other youth activities. She united with New Bethel Baptist Church during her early teen years.
Linda grew up in Marshall and attended Holy Spirit Catholic School and Marshall Public Schools. After graduating from Marshall High School in 1976, she enrolled in East Texas State University (now Texas A&M Commerce) where she was initiated into the Theta Nu Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She received the Bachelor of Science degree in 1979.
Linda joined Mt. Hebron Baptist Church where she worked in Sunday School, Usher Board and Mission auxiliaries. She also affiliated with North Dallas Suburban Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., working with community service initiatives.
She moved to Dallas to enter the world of work! At Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, she worked full-time as a Customer Service Representative (CSR) for 20 years until the job was outsourced. She also worked part-time at Sears and Joske’s in Dallas before returning to Marshall.
This relocation was highlighted with her marriage to Deryel T. Rollins, a former schoolmate and very dear friend.
Linda resumed her service to her church, sorority, and the Marshall community. She used her cooking and crafts skills by assisting her mother with conducting monthly visits while supplying special holiday favors for Marshall Manor Residents and honoring veterans with flag-placement at Old Powder Mill Cemetery. Additional support of her sorority’s Marshall Alumnae Chapter included chairing Community Outreach/Nursing Home, Policies and Procedures, and working with Audit, Program Planning and Development, and advising Delta Academy and GEMS members and Jabberwock participants.
At New Bethel, she served on the Usher Board and participated in the Sunday School and mission ministries. She was a faithful worker in the Mission Open Kitchen and served as Facilitator of the Sisterhood Class, a monthly Bible study organized for adult women.
She was lovingly cared for by her husband and his Family; her sister in Christ and in Delta, Hazel Lillian Phillips; and her sisters/cousins, Stacey Cato and Karen M. Lester.
She lives in the memory of her husband and her mother; mother-in-law, Mary Johnson; step-daughters: Elisa Rudd-Morris, Mary Rudd-Wilder, and Shakayla Jenkins; step-sons, Terrance Rudd and Damian Jenkins all of Marshall, Texas; six sisters-in-law, three brothers-in-law; 11 grand-children; 2 great grand-children, all of Marshall, TX; aunts: Carlys Bays, Culver City, CA and Joycelyn Mazen, Shreveport, LA; uncles, James (Dinah) Gardener, Jr., North Kingstown, RI and Walter McPhail, Shreveport, LA; and a host of beloved cousins and extended family.