Douglas L. Rollins

Douglas L. Rollins passed away peacefully at Scott Lake Health and Rehabilitation Center on September 20, 2023. Doug was born in Winter Haven, Florida, on February 22, 1949, to Mella and Lawrence Rollins. He was the oldest of three children. Part of Doug’s childhood was spent working at WSIR, his dad’s radio station, playing the latest tunes. When he wasn’t broadcasting music, Doug also helped out in his father’s orange groves, with his lifelong friend Buster Wilson by his side. Doug was a running back for the Winter Haven High School football team the first year they went to state. He is described by one of his friends as being a “young James Dean” during those years. After high school, he attended the University of Florida where he was also a member of Chi Phi Fraternity. He received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 1971. He would remain a Gator fan for all his life. Doug was a Certified Public Accountant who loved his job. He was dedicated to each of his clients and worked diligently for them, whether handling broader financial issues or filing tricky tax returns on their behalf. It’s impossible to mention Doug without including Carole, his wife of 38 years. The two married on November 1, 1984, and were completely devoted to each other. They were virtually inseparable, even up until the time of his death. Doug and Carole enjoyed traveling together to many locations, whether it was the Canadian Rockies or New York City. But North Carolina outshone any other location in Doug’s eyes. He loved to look out over the mountains with his wife by his side. He’d take his beloved Jaguar a little above the speed limit while driving across the Blue Ridge Parkway. Doug was at home on the golf course. Hitting the links , working out, and watching Gator games were all things he enjoyed. He followed Christ and strove to imitate him both in terms of his quiet strength and generosity of spirit. He is survived by his wife, Carole, and his brother, Kent. He is also survived by his stepdaughter, Christi, his niece, Lori, and their spouses and children. He will be missed by all who knew him. A Celebration of Doug's Life will be conducted Saturday, September 30, 2023 at 11 am at Gentry Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Road, Lakeland, FL. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any of the following charities in Doug's memory: Lighthouse Ministries, Wounded Warriors, Vitas Hospice or Good Shepherd Hospice.

Douglas L. Rollins

February 22, 1949 - September 20, 2023