James Rollins

Master Chief James I. Rollins, U.S. Navy Retired departed this life on May 25, 2014. He was born on March 27, 1943 in Tappahannock, VA to the late Charles D. and Gladys V. Rollins. He attended public schools in Tappahannock, VA and received his Bachelor's Degree in Business Management from Saint Leo College in Saint Leo, Florida.

In 1959, James entered the United States Navy and retired in 1979 as a Master Chief Petty Officer after twenty years of service. He served at the following military commands: USS Walworth County LST-1164, USS Guam LPH-9, USS Rushmore LSD-14, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon, USS Spiegel Grove LSD-32, Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal in Indian Head, MD, and USS Independence CVA-62.

Master Chief Rollins earned the following service medals; Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Two Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals, and Five Navy Good Conducts Medals.

He was a member of the Fleet Reserve Branch 099, American Legion Post 0327, NARFE, AARP and USS Spiegel Grove LSD-32 Association.

Master Chief Rollins began a second career with the United States Postal Service in 1979 as a letter carrier in Norfolk, Virginia, retiring as the Assistant Postmaster of Virginia Beach, Virginia in 2003 after 24 years of service.

James enjoyed life after retirement. He loved watching sports, especially the Washington Redskins and Virginia Tech Hokies and discussing the games with his sons. He enjoyed speaking to his sisters daily and played the role of the "Big Brother" over all these years. He loved hearing what was going on in the lives of his nieces and nephews and he especially enjoyed visiting and helping out with his nephew Timothy who recently passed away in March 2014. He loved his best friend Roko, a St. Bernard under James' care for several years. James had a great appreciation for the art of cooking and loved cooking for his wife, family, and friends. He would describe his creations in such an appetizing manner it would make his family and friends cook that same dish within days. He loved gardening and planting flowers, and was always excited to show the "first fruit" of each gardening season. James was not a person to express his feelings through words for he was a person who showed his love through his actions. James had accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

He leaves to cherish his memories: his loving wife, Marta Cecelia Rollins of Virginia Beach, VA, his two sons James David Rollins of New York City, NY and Arnett Irving Rollins of Perth, Australia, his daughter, Pamela Rollins Miller (MySean) and his two grandchildren, Bryce Ellis and MySha Miller of Lanham, MD, his six sisters, Lillian Clark (James) of Temple Hills, MD, Esther Jeter (Mal Veals) of Vauxhall, NJ, Rebecca Taylor of Hustle, VA, Shirley Patterson (John) of Accokeek, MD, Ruth Gardner (Joseph) of Oxon Hill, MD, Geraldine Rollins of Minneapolis, Minnesota, a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends, and his beloved St. Bernard, Roko.


Funeral Home:
Cedell Brooks Funeral Home
25662 A.P. Hill Blvd
Port Royal, VA
US 22535