Obituary of Judith Rolle

Mrs. Judith Ann Gibson Rolle Judith Ann Gibson Rolle (formerly Judith Ann Gibson) transitioned during the early afternoon hours on Wednesday, December 19, 2023, at the McGraw Center located in Jacksonville, Florida, after an extensive battle with an underlying illness. Judith was born in Gibson Town, an unincorporated neighborhood of Canton, North Carolina, on January 6, 1934. Judith graduated from Reynolds High School in Canton, North Carolina. She attended Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. During her matriculation, she pledged to the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority. Judith later met and married her late husband, Reverend Gordon W. Rolle, Sr. in 1955. She supported her husband Gordon in his ministries in and around the Raleigh-Durham area for several years before the family relocated with their firstborn, Gordon W. Rolle, Jr., to Los Angeles, California in 1960. Judith worked with the Quaker Organization that once tasked her with removing a group of Jewish missionaries away from Watts during the 1965 riots. In 1969, Judith left California with her husband, son, Gordon W. Rolle Jr., and their 4-year-old son, Wade Martin Rolle. Together they moved to her husband’s homeland, The Bahamas, to participate in Bahamian independence. The family lived on the islands of New Providence and Grand Bahama until they relocated to Atlanta, Georgia in 1976. Judith made lifelong friends who became her brothers and sisters, including Evelyn Pinder-Dames, the Honorable Neko Grant, Maquilla Smith, the Honorable J. M. Pinder, and Lavern Pinder. Reverend Rolle passed suddenly in 1979 in Atlanta, Georgia. Judith was a long-time resident of College Park and Fayetteville, Georgia. As a retired GTE training executive, she was a former Ponderosa Neighborhood Association president for two terms, and a member of Benn Hill United Methodist Church where she served in various capacities including the Pastor Parish Board and the Couples in Christ Sunday school group, where Judith met her dear friends, Ted and Wilmotene Sparks; a member and former President of The Georgia Carousels Women’s Organization; member of Freeport Bahama Toast Mistress Chapter; and a member of Freeport Bahamas Kiwanis International Chapter. Judith was also, as stated earlier, a member of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority. During her time, Judith was well-known by many dignitaries, celebrities, and thousands of people. She traveled extensively and visited many countries. From 2006 until 2023, Judith lived in Jacksonville, Florida. During these years, she connected with Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church, where she was active until she was challenged with health-related concerns. She was an avid worship attender, a member of the United Methodist Women, and over the years, served on several committees and with various church ministries. Judith Rolle was preceded by her late husband, Reverend Gordon Washington Rolle, Sr., pastor of the Alice Street Church of God of Prophecy. She is survived by her two loving sons: Dr. Gordon W. Rolle, Jr. (Dr. Sonia Francis) and Attorney Wade M. Rolle; three grandchildren: Gordon W. Rolle III, Nadia Mare Muniu-Rolle and Dylan Wade Rolle; one great grandchild, Gordon W. Rolle IV; three sisters-in-law: Delores Bartlett, Lois Gibson and Christina Gibson; Judith has living and deceased 15 nieces and 12 nephews, including many grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. Judith has gone from this life to be with her husband, the Rev. Gordon W. Rolle Sr., and immediate family members, father, Deacon Wade Gibson; mother, Reverend Pearl Gibson; siblings: Alpha Omega, Walter, Ralph and Raymond; sisters-in-law: Sayoka Gibson, Veronica Cooper and Myrtle Bartlett; and brothers-in-law: James Bartlett and Raymon Bartlett. We, “the family,” believe our mother, Judith Rolle, is a guiding light from our Father God and Jesus Christ that will stay bright within our lives for all time. Judith requested to be cremated and her ashes to be sprinkled over the family gravesite of her husband, the Rev. Gordon W. Rolle, Sr. and other family members. Memorial Service for Judith Rolle will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2023 at 10:00AM in the Simpson United Methodist Church, 10604 Iowa Avenue. Jacksonville, Florida 32219. There will be NO public visitation. Arrangements in the care of Coleman Walker Berry Funerals & Cremations. (formerly A.B. Coleman Mortuary)