Members of First Baptist Church of Springfield are mourning the loss of the Rev. Jeffrey D. Rollins, who died in a single-vehicle wreck Saturday and who was honored the week before for leading the church for 25 years.
The pastor oversaw the church moving from downtown Springfield to its current location just north of town. He ministered to multiple generations of families, through good times and bad.
“It was impressive how he always popped up at the places that surprised you,” said Brett Bennett, city manager of Springfield and a lifelong member of the church. Bennett said Rollins would show up at a hospital when someone was having an operation or when a student was signing to play ball at a college.
“It didn’t matter if you were a member of the church or if you were a Catholic or Lutheran,” Bennett said. “If you were having a hard time, he’d always pop up. … You could talk to him about anything.
“It was said in yesterday’s sermon that, ‘This community doesn’t realize what it’s lost,’” Bennett said. “It’s very true.”
Church member Ruth Lee said Rollins’ longevity says something about his ability to get along with people.
“He was very quiet in the way he did things,” she said. “He was a pastor, not a preacher. His preaching was fairly low-key. He was not a firebrand preacher. He lived his faith and his belief.”
Deacon Lonnie Pate said Rollins touched a lot of people. “His spiritual gift was his ability to help and serve people,” Pate said. “He didn’t just preach it every Sunday. He lived it every day.”
But Pate said Rollins didn’t pretend to be perfect. “He was a flawed man,” Pate said. “He asked for forgiveness and tried to learn from his mistakes.”
Pate said the church has been looking for an associate pastor since Darren Thomas left last June to work for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in Asheville, N.C.
“It’s going to be hard for this church to come to terms with having to have a new pastor,” Pate said.
Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie called “Brother Jeff” “one of the most selfless, giving, and amazing people I have ever known. I felt privileged to have had him as a friend. He touched thousands of people in our community and will be greatly missed.”
Rollins, 55, died at 5:15 p.m. Saturday when the Ford Ranger he was driving veered off a South Carolina highway and into a tree, Jasper County Coroner Martin Sauls said.
Rollins was pronounced dead at the scene, on S.C. 119 about a half-mile north of the state line.
Sauls said Rollins was diabetic. Investigators were looking into whether his medical condition contributed to the accident, Sauls said.
Rollins is survived by his wife, Dorothy Sheppard Rollins; children, Melissa Rollins Jones (Robbie), Rachel Rollins Horton (Justin), Michael Christopher Rollins (Brandi) and Rebecca Hope Rollins; grandchildren, Rylan, Jaylee, Melanie, Jincee, Mia, Max and Jaxson; parents, Johnny Eugene and Geraldine Carter Rollins; sister, Joy Sauers; and a number of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Johnny Eugene Rollins Jr.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at First Baptist Church of Springfield.
A funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church of Springfield.
Remembrances may be made to First Baptist Church of Springfield, 1435 Hwy. 119 N., Springfield, GA 31329.
Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.