Roland B Scroggins

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.” John 14: 1-3

After a life well-lived, serving his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Roland Byrd Scroggins of Brandon stepped into Life Everlasting on October 8, 2022, after a long illness. Born May 29, 1942, in Jackson, Roland was the only son of four children born to the late Lela and Bob Scroggins. He lived a fulfilling life, leaving a remarkable legacy to his family and friends through a giving spirit, a compassionate heart and a commitment to Almighty God.

Roland is survived by his wife of 60 years, Annette; his four daughters, Kimberly (Charley) Gordon of Tyler, TX, Dawn (Mac) McAuley of Pontotoc, MS, Paige (Craig) Sessums of Ridgeland, MS, and Leanne (Matt) Pettit of Colleyville, TX; his sisters, Bobbie (Bob) Bryan of Stillwater, OK, Midge Samsel of Ridgeland, MS and Billie Thompson Harrell of Brandon, MS. His pride and joy were his 12 grandchildren who lovingly referred to him as “PaPa”; Deaton McAuley, Abby (Nick) Simonetti, Grant Gordon, Katy (Will) Atha, Chandler Sessums, Reid Gordon, Price Sessums, Caroline McAuley, Ally Sessums, Grace Gordon, Parker Pettit and Drew Pettit.

Having grown up in Jackson, Roland attended Central High School where his passion for art and creative design took off. He made a name for himself winning multiple art awards throughout high school. There he fell head over heels for the petite and beautiful brunette, Annette Renfroe. Both 15 at the time, Roland swept her off her feet, literally, on their first date to the school dance. It was love at first sight and ever since. The high school sweethearts married on July 13, 1962, following their high school graduation.

Roland’s determination and drive to be a successful architect led him to the University of Southern Mississippi where he received a Bachelor of Science in Architectural and Mechanical Drafting in 1964. Following graduation, he moved to Baton Rouge, LA to continue additional studies in architecture at LSU. After a brief career start as chief draftsman at Mississippi Steel & Iron, Roland knew in his heart that he wanted to start his own business. And in 1970, he did just that. He hit the ground running and founded Jackson Detailing Inc. in Jackson, MS. When he wasn’t running his own company, he would work alongside his dad building houses for Scroggins Realty, a company started by his father.

In 1979, Roland showcased his architectural talent and built his dream home in The Hills of Crossgates in Brandon. Outside of raising a family and his relationship with Christ, designing and building his home was his greatest work. Inspired by his wife, every design element of their home reflected his passion, creativity, and artistic vision. Acres of lush landscape, beautiful trees and sounds of nature served as the backdrop for this peaceful life in Brandon. He made sure to make room for a huge vegetable garden where he grew everything from watermelons to cucumbers to vine-ripened tomatoes. Through his generous spirit, he enjoyed sharing his harvest with friends and family—even jarring up homemade bread and butter pickles every year.

When he wasn’t sitting on his back porch or working on a project, Roland and Annette would travel to places like Alaska, London and the Caribbean. One trip that meant the world to Roland was his trip to the Holy Land. There Roland and Annette were baptized in the Jordan River and visited the empty tomb of Jesus. They also renewed their vows at the place where Jesus once turned water into wine in Cana. Throughout his life, Roland’s Christian faith was always ever present as he was a devoted member of Crossgates Baptist Church where he also served as a deacon for many years, as a Gideon with The Gideons International and most recently as a member of Brandon Baptist Church.

Roland had many loves in his life and his family was second to none except perhaps for his love of hunting and fishing. He always felt comfortable in a camouflage jacket or a fishing hat with a rod and reel in hand. If you were fortunate enough to join him on one of his outdoor adventures, you could expect to hear one of his many tall tales while perched in a deer stand—whispering, of course.

When asked what his greatest accomplishment was, he quickly responded, “Marrying Annette and raising four girls." Raising four daughters is no easy lift, but he did it with grace, agility and a lot of patience. He was a compassionate father, a great listener, a cheerleader of sorts, and always knew when a little humor was needed to cheer the room.

Roland was known for his quick wit, dry sense of humor and funny stories. He was extremely loyal and would give the shirt off his back for anyone who needed it. Few people in life could make friends faster or keep them longer, especially true for the close knit of friends in his coffee group. The group started meeting in the mornings over a decade ago at local fast-food restaurants near home. The location may have changed over the years, but the friendship, loyalty, and compassion for each other remained constant. The heartfelt bond he had with his friends and family was a testament of his commitment to true love and devotion to those close to him.

A celebration of Roland’s life will be held on Monday, October 10, at 1:30 p.m. at Parkway Funeral Home in Ridgeland. Visitation will be at 12 p.m. and funeral service will follow at 1:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Roland’s honor to The Gideons International.