Age: 79
Address: Burnsville
Date of Death: Monday, February 4, 2013
Arrangements:  Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home

Details: Lois Roland of Burnsville went home to be with the Lord on Monday, February 4th at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital.  A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late Thurman and Eva Laws Brown.  She was also preceded in death by a daughter:  Sandra Brown; 2 brothers:  Nathaniel and Dean Brown and a sister:  Louise Hughes.
     Lois attended Burnsville High School.  At the age of 11, she worked with her father at the Yancey Record, where she ran the line type and print press to publish the local newspaper.  Lois and her sister, Grace, loved singing country music.  At the age of 16, they were named the Carolina Sweethearts.  They performed at the Carolina Barn Dance at the Carolina Theater in Spruce Pine.  She had the privilege to sing with Hank Snow, Jimmy Skinner and was managed by Cal Calhoun.  Lois was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend.
     Surviving are her husband of 55 years: E. J. Roland; a granddaughter: Angie Patton and husband, Jeff; 2 great granddaughters: Amanda and Jennifer Patton, whom she loved dearly, all of Burnsville; 3 sisters:  Grace Hensley and husband, Bill, Emma Jean Hunter and husband, Clarence, and Eloise Hensley 2 brothers;  Benny Brown and Billy Joe Brown and wife, Peggy, and a sister-in-law:  Keta Brown.   Several nieces and nephews also survive.   
     Funeral services will be held at 8 PM Wednesday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home.  Dr. Chris Morgan will officiate.  A graveside service will be held at 11 AM Thursday in the Wilson Family Cemetery on Jacks Creek.
     The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 PM Wednesday prior to the service at the funeral home, and at other times, will be at the home of E. J. Roland.
     In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Yancey County, 856 Georges Fork Road, Burnsville, NC 28714.