Lilli "Ruth" Rollins

Mrs. Lilli "Ruth" McDole Rollins died after an unexpected and brief illness on March 8, 2021 in Davis, California at the age of 78. Lilli is survived by her son, Ryan Rollins (spouse, LaToya) of Fairfield, CA, and daughter, Melody Rollins Downes, of Westport, CT as well as her grandchildren Jasmine, Johanna, Mykhaela, Ryan Jr, Lucas, Camille and three great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her mother, Clara Benjamin (nee), father, Rev. Benjamin McDole, and son-in-law, Quintano Downes.

An only child, Lilli was born on August 13th in the Johnsonville community of Evergreen, Alabama. But she was not lonely. Lilli grew up with many cousins - the children of of her 11 aunts and uncles - including cousins Roy Likely, Elizabeth and Eula Benjamin, Emily Bradley, Meatherlene Stokes, and more. Lilli graduated from Florida A&M University with a major in Sociology in 1964. That was only the beginning of her educational journey, both as a student and a teacher. After a brief stint in Brooklyn, New York that lasted just until the winter weather set in, Lilli started her career as a teacher in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. Only a couple of years later, Lilli was teaching in Pensacola, FL when she met a handsome airman, Melvin Rollins, who would soon become her husband for almost 20 years. A little more than a year after their 1967 wedding – which took place in the home of her dear friend, Shirley Otey Gooding Butler – Melvin and Lilli started a family, welcoming their first child, Ryan Delano, on July 12, 1968. These early years in Pensacola were very joyful for the young family, and Lilli managed to work full-time, take care of her baby boy, and earn a Special Education teaching credential from the University of West Florida. And Lilli was soon expecting another baby.

Before the new baby arrived, Melvin was sent to Hamilton Air Force Base in Novato, CA. Lilli stayed behind for a few months until she delivered Melody Shaye at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, FL, on May 19, 1972. Lilli's mother, Clara, was by her side during the delivery. Within a couple of months, Lilli, Clara and the two kids were off to California. In the meantime, Melvin had been placed on active duty in Alaska. It would be almost a year before he met baby Melody, who he incorrectly predicted would be a boy. Without the internet, Lilli & Melvin were forced to handwrite letters to each other during their physical separation. One of Melvin’s letters -- which indicated that he preferred "Melanie" to "Melody" for the new baby, if it was a girl -- arrived too late. The couple had previously agreed that if the baby was a boy, they would name it after Melvin's recently deceased younger brother, Leonard, who died in Vietnam. As you might expect, baby Melody took some time to warm up to the new man in her life, perhaps sensing his initial disappointment in her name and gender!

In California, Lilli met lifelong friends on the Air Force Base, including Mamie Bates, Esse Roberts, Pat Byrd, and Alvarita Paul. The family moved off the base after a short period into their home in the beautiful Ignacio neighborhood of Novato, CA, where Ryan and Melody completed their primary education. Lilli would become an early/founding member of Black Women of Marin and the Concerned Parents of Novato, where she met other families focused on raising well-rounded children. And Lilli remained active in the community - including in leadership roles at her children's schools and in their activities - from that time up until her death. She was a founder and co-chairperson of the Novato Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention Council, chair of the Marin County Human Rights Education Advisory Committee, member of the Marin County Self-Esteem Task Force, member of the board of New Perspectives, and a member of an FDA Independent Review Board for over 10 years.

Not one to rest on her laurels, Lilli earned her Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Sonoma State University in 1990. She transitioned from being a much-loved Special Education teacher to various Assistant Principal roles at San Rafael HS (San Rafael), Jefferson HS (Daly City), Armijo HS (Fairfield), and San Marin HS (Novato). In her final and most challenging role, Lilli was the Principal at Jesse Bethel High School in Vallejo after it had been taken over by the state for failing its students and not operating within its budget. Lilli had a huge turnaround project on her hands, and she did it with fierce determination, strong leadership, and ever-present grace. She was loved by students, parents and teachers alike. Lilli retired from school administration in June 2008.

Lilli was also very active in the church. At Novato Presbyterian, she met lifelong friend and mentor, Genevieve Grundstrom and served on the Board of Trustees. Ryan and Melody were both baptized at Novato Presbyterian. Later, at Third Baptist Church in San Francisco, where Lilli attended and served up until her death, she was a past member of the Board of Trustees, personnel manager for employment issues, and, most recently, led the Art & Culture Circle. Lilli was well-known for her frequent sojourns to New York City to visit her daughter Melody and two grandchildren, Lucas and Camille. On these trips, she would attend Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. Lilli always stood up during the welcoming of guests and sent greetings from her home church.

Because of her work in Solano County, Lilli had relocated from Marin County to Fairfield in 1995. As she had done previously, Lilli immediately became active in her new community. She was a member and past president of the Northern Solano Democratic Club and member of The Links. In her retirement, Lilli loved to travel, including to New York and Las Vegas, and loved spending time with her California-based grandchildren, Johanna and Ryan Jr.

A virtual memorial service is scheduled for Friday, April 9th at 2pm PT / 5m ET. Rev. Amos Brown, Third Baptist Church of San Francisco, will officiate the ceremony. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Lilli's life. In the meantime, please add a picture or a written memory below in order to celebrate all that our mother was.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Lilli's name to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund at the link below.