Ralph Alexander Roland Sr.

Ralph Alexander Roland, Sr., 82, of Taylorsville, NC. passed away peacefully at home in Waldorf, MD. on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Ralph was born September 2,1942 in Wilkes County, NC. to Gerald Roland and Freda Crawford Roland.

As a youth in Taylorsville, he worked odd jobs leading up to his graduation from Happy Plains School. His high school principal encouraged him to apply for college and he decided to enter Elizabeth City State College in 1962.

Activities in college included pledging Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, being a camera man filming sporting events and was also a member of the tennis team for several years. Leading up to graduation in 1966, he met and married Ella Alloma Mason on June 4, 1966. They lived in Elizabeth City, NC. for a brief period prior to moving to Washington, DC. and later to Oxon Hill, MD. in 1972. He fathered two children, Carmen Yvette Roland, born September 10, 1967, and Ralph Alexander Roland, Jr., born on April 19, 1970.

Embarking on a career change he started teaching physical education at Lackey Sr. High School in Indian head MD. Years later he transferred to Thomas Stone High School in Waldorf MD and was also the coach of the girls’ basketball team as well as the tennis coach. Dad proudly retired from teaching in June 2007.

Preceding him in death were his mother Freda Crawford Roland, 2 aunts, Lucille Crawford Cambell and Evelyn Crawford and brother Eugene H. Crawford. Those left to cherish his memory are his daughter Carmen Y. Bland of White Plains MD., his son Ralph A. Roland, Jr. of Baltimore, MD, his grandchildren Pierre Darrell Bland, Brian Alexander Bland and one great grand-daughter Shai Noelle Bland and a host of friends.