Shirley Roland Hemphill
Shirley Fay Roland Hemphill was born in St. John Colony, Caldwell County, Texas. She was the sixth child of eight children to Henry Clay Roland and Dorothy “Daisy” Hill Roland.
Shirley was a graduate of Carver High School. She spent more than 34 years in the banking business, with 16 of those years at Wells Fargo Bank.
Shirley accepted Christ at an early age at the St
. John Zion Union Baptist Church and later moved her membership to the St. John Regular Missionary Baptist Church. She served as the Sunday School Secretary, Choir Secretary and Mission II Auxiliary. Shirley loved the Lord, God’s people and she loved her church.
Shirley was united in holy matrimony to C. T. Hemphill on Aug. 3, 1959.
Her favorite pastime was “Sports;” you name the sport and she enjoyed it. She was a sports fanatic. She played softball from an early teen up until the old body says “I can’t go any further.” Not only did she love sports but she also, enjoyed spending time with her sisters (Mae and Betty) when they came home from Anchorage and California.
However, there was something else special about Shirley – she was an excellent cook. Everyone looked forward for Thanksgiving and Christmas for her famous dressing, cake and pies.
Her father, mother, one sister, two brothers preceded her in death.
Shirley leaves to cherish her precious memories, her husband of 53 years, C.T. Hemphill; two sons, Aubrey (Pamela) and Patrick (Regina), both of Coppell, Texas; 13 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mae T. Adams (Harvey), of Anchorage, Alaska and Betty J. Bland (Ernest), of Compton, Calif.; three brothers, James Roland, of Anchorage, Alaska, Freddie Roland (Caroll), of Austin and Eddie Roland, Sr. (Stella), of Austin, Texas; sisters-in-laws, Luereece Tennon and Coleen Demps, both of Austin, and Mary Lee Bell, of San Antonio; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The family received callers on Friday, Sept. 28, 2012, from 1 – 7 p.m. at Mercer Memorial Chapel/Fuller-Sheffield Funeral Service, in Austin. Funeral services were held on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, at noon at St. James Baptist Church. Interment followed at St. John Colony Cemetery.
Arrangements under the direction of Fuller-Sheffield Funeral Service.
It saddened me to hear the news of my dearest cousin and friend Shirley passing. Shirley was a beautiful person and she truly loved to talk. She and I had a special bond. We always met in a store shopping somewhere and would laugh and have a great time. We talked about how we, as Rolands, loved to shop. Shirley loved God and she loved and treasured her family, especially her brothers, Eddie and Freddie. She was a beam of light to all she encountered. Her smile was infectious. Boy, did she love to talk!!! I love you, cousin. R.I.P. I will truly miss you.