WAYNESVILLE – Nonie Marie Hensley Roland, age 87, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012 at her residence.
A native of Swain County, she was the daughter of the late William and Grace Smith Hensley. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Kelly Roland, who died in 1970 and a son, William “Bill” Roland. Marie was a descendent of the late Cherokee Indian Chief, Nimrod Jarrett Smith, who was her great-grandfather. She will be remembered for leading a dedicated Christian life and loving the Lord above all else. Marie was a wonderful loving mother who cared deeply for her family. She was talented with crafts and well-known for making beautiful Indian dolls and necklaces. She also enjoyed working in her garden and canning.
She is survived by four daughters, Linda Norene Sutton, Sandra Gail Roland, Charlene Lee Mull and her husband, Carl, and Pamela Kay Singleton and her husband, Tommy; three sons, James Michael Roland and his wife, Clara, and Kerry Neal Roland and his wife, Linda, and Christopher Mintz; 23 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; and 20 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 11a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. at Full Gospel Christian Fellowship Church with Reverend Frank Wyatt and Reverend Linda Campbell officiating. Burial followed at Birdtown Cemetery in Cherokee.
Wells Funeral Homes & Cremation Services of Waynesville was in charge of arrangements. An on-line memorial register is available at “Obituaries” at “www.wellsfuneralhome.com”