Extracted from The Centreville Press (Centreville, AL)
Thursday, September 21, 1961

Horace M. Roland Buried At West Blocton Sept. 10th

Mr. Horace M. Roland, age 69, passed away Friday September 8 at Shelby Memorial Hospital at Alabaster.

Mr. Roland was a lifetime resident of West Blocton. He was agent for the old Woco Pep Oil Co. here for about 27 years, was 1/3 partner in the R.F.D. Funeral Co. for a number of years and later was sole owner of the same business. He was a member of the Blocton First Baptist Church where he was a Deacon for 42 years. He was also a member of the Masons for 42 years, was interested in the betterment of his community and active in all civic affairs.

Mr. Roland was married October 15, 1911, to the former Miss Ethel Desmond of River Bend and had he lived until next month they would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. His illness and suffering was borne with patience and a Christian faith. His wife faithfully ministered to his needs throughout his long illness.

Surviving are the wife, one daughter, Mrs. Helen Martin, of Winfield; two sisters, Mrs. Maggie Finnen, West Blocton, and Mrs. Willie Larrimore of Birmingham; two brothers, Jim and Albert Roland, of Helena, and a host of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held on Sunday, September 10, at 2:30 p.m. from the Blocton First Baptist Church with Rev. Charles Langston of Tallassee and Rev. P. M. Acker officiating. Soft, appropriate music was furnished by Mrs. Mary Davie at the piano and Miss Lavella McIntosh at the organ.

Active pallbearers were Oliver Yeager, William J. Murphy, John Langston, Odett Slaton, Lester Fitts and G. A. Deerman.

Honorary pallbearers were Dr. W. E. Stinson, Dr. H. H. Hudson, Dr. Percy Nolen, J. H. Desmond, Sr., J. R. White, Floyd Morrison, W. R. White, Sr., Roscoe Deerman and W. D. Deerman.

Interment was in Mt. Carmel Cemetery with Bessemer Brown Service Funeral Home directing.