Mary Ann Rollins

On Thursday, Jan. 16, 2026, the Lord called Mary Ann Rollins home, as His angels ushered her to eternal rest, after 91 years on this earth as a beloved daughter, sister, mother, and grandmother. Led by faith, she spent the majority of her life, above all, as the strong and steering matriarch of her family. Born Mary Ann Dawson on Dec. 31, 1934, in Freemont, North Carolina, she was the eighth of 16 children, who entered this world under the union of Joseph Dawson Sr. and Corinithia Rowe Dawson. Raised in a Christian household, she grew up attending Turner Swamp Primitive Baptist Church in Eureka, NC, setting a foundation of faith that would become a focal point of her life. Known for her innate intelligence, Mary excelled as a student, graduating ahead of schedule at the top of her class from Friendship High School on May 26, 1950, when she was just 16 years old. At 18, Mary moved from North Carolina to the Washington. D.C. area, where she’d build a life and family. Mary took college courses in business administration, which helped earn one of her early jobs at the U.S. Department of the Interior, working with her sisters, Pauline and Arlethia. In 1956, she married William Donald Wright, with whom she had her first two children, Vincent Aaron Wright and Shelley Antoinette Wright. After her second marriage to Joseph Louis Rollins in 1966, she gave birth to Lisa Renee Rollins and Kevin Joseph Rollins. Her professional career continued as a personnel management specialist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), before working for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), from which she retired in 1993. Mary played a vital role in helping raise her four grandchildren: Aaron Alexander Dodson, Kia Nichelle Rollins, Ryan Amber Hayes, and Jordin Kristina Rollins, never missing a birthday or Christmas without giving them a card. She was revered for her cooking, especially on holidays, and known for her love of playing cards — bid whist and pokeno — dancing and following the NBA and NFL. She also cherished the relationship she had with her longtime partner, James Selby Alexander, which endured for over 40 years. Throughout her life, Mary fully found her faith, accepting Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, while becoming a devout member of the congregations at G Street Baptist, Hughes, Colesville and Good Shepherd United Methodist Churches, and Forcey Bible Church. In 2023, after being diagnosed with dementia, she entered the Hillhaven Sterling Care nursing home, where she’d ultimately spend the rest of her life, keeping her mind sharp with puzzle books and weekly visits from her family. In her final days and moments, the Lord blessed Mary by restoring her authentic self and spirit, for which she will always be remembered. On Jan. 16, 2026, Mary submitted graciously to the Lord’s will, earning her wings as one of His angels. Her life will be incredibly missed, but certainly never forgotten, by her four children: Vincent A. Wright, Shelley A. Dodson, Lisa R. Hayes and Kevin J. Rollins (Jacqueline); four grandchildren: Aaron A. Dodson, Kia N. Rollins, Ryan A. Hayes and Jordin K. Rollins; two sisters: Irene Young and Arlethia Dawson; and one brother: Jonah Dawson (Betty), as well as a host of other nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by siblings, Emma Dawson, Alfonso (Clara) Dawson, Sarah Braswell (Randolph), Beulah Mae Tyree (Charles), Hattie Rematha Paige (Cobbie), Joseph Dawson Jr. (Doris), Pauline Dawson, and Lillie Ruth Tyree; nieces: Eloise Forte (Sandra F.), Deidre Young, Evelyn Dawson, Ann Witherspoon, Beverly Tyree, and great niece Elaine Witherspoon; nephews: Joel Dickerson, Donnell Braswell, Nubon A. Ealy III, son-in-law Antoin L. Hayes, and cousin Edward L. Dawson (reared as a brother).

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Mary Ann Rollins

December 31, 1934 - January 16, 2026