Grace Lucille Myers Roland

5/31/1929-10/17/2023

Grace Myers Roland was born on May 31, 1929, in Lake Hamilton, Florida and passed away on October 17, 2023, in Pageland, SC. She was preceded in death by her husband Dr. Nathan Lewis Roland, parents Willard Henry Myers and Leila Anna Knowles Myers, brothers Willard Harrison Myers, Douglas Rolph Myers, Howard Leslie Myers, and sister Leila Harriett Myers Platt. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Drs. Mark and Ann Roland, grandsons William Arrington Roland and Andrew Townsend Roland, granddaughter Amelia Roche Hyde (Zachary), her sisters-in-law Nell Roland Funderburk and Patricia Greenway Myers, and many nieces and nephews.

Grace lived and worked on the family cattle farm in Alabama prior to entering the Mather School of Nursing in New Orleans. After graduating in 1948, she became an RN and worked at various hospitals including those in New Orleans, Denver, and Barnwell, SC.

Since her early years Grace was an accomplished artist with oil, charcoal, and watercolor mediums. In addition to winning many local and state competitions and awards throughout her adult life, she enjoyed teaching art classes to adults and children, and illustrated two children's books. She especially enjoyed special painting lessons with her grandsons and sharing her talents with them. Even while a resident at Springhill Assisted Living facility, she offered painting classes to other residents, attracting even non-residents as her classes were immensely popular.

Of the many roles Grace enjoyed, she most relished being a minister's wife, mother, and Sunday School teacher. After meeting Nathan at church in Denver where they married in 1957, they began a journey together to minister to church congregations. Over the years they were led to serve many communities in South Carolina including Barnwell, Bamburg, Orangeburg, Aiken, Allendale, and Lexington counties. It was during these years of service that she invited three foster children into their home and raised them as her own for a period of time. Grace was also a passionate Sunday school teacher at George's Creek Baptist Church for several years, where she would drive her Ford Falcon around the countryside loading up children to take them to church so they could know Jesus.

Grace was most known for her sweet disposition and unfailing positive outlook on life. She intentionally found gratitude and joy in the everyday and strength in her faith which she often shared with all. In fact, Grace made it a priority to share her love for God in the most compassionate of ways to every waiter she encountered! She was infamous for her love for everyone, no matter their background or how well she knew them. She talked and laughed with whomever she met, was quick to encourage and compliment all, and faithful to include others who were alone in life. The Rolands' Thanksgiving table was often a beautiful menagerie of people from all walks of life! Combining her love for art and others, she freely gifted original paintings to friends and family, and faithfully sent hundreds of cards each year throughout her lifetime. As her grandsons told her in her final days, she will forever be an inspiration to all of us!

Her family would like to especially thank the staff of Springhill Assisted Living in Pageland where she spent her final few years. She loved it there and enjoyed living with friends! The staff at Springhill loved her as their own and went above and beyond every day in the care provided. The family will forever be in awe of the gracious love and attentive care they showed every day.

Her funeral will be on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. Visitation will be held at 10:00 am at Liberty Hill Baptist Church with the church service to follow at 11:00 am. A graveside service will be held at 3:00 pm at Lexington Memorial Cemetery in Lexington, SC.

Memorial gifts can be made to the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, 3806 Monument Ave. Richmond, VA 23230.

"…..that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:7

Baumgartner Funeral Home of Pageland, South Carolina (www.baumgartnerfh.com) is assisting the Roland family.