Helen Taft Roling

Helen Taft Roling, 91 of Lake City, passed away on Thursday, February 5, 2026 at the Haven Hospice Suwannee Valley Care Center. Mrs. Roling was born in Coffee County, Georgia, the youngest of 8 children, to the late Henry and Lucy Rowell Taft. Mrs. Taft had made Lake City her home for the past 35 years having been a longtime resident of the Jacksonville area. She was of the Pentecostal faith and had previously attended the Lake City Church of God. Mrs. Roling enjoyed cooking, fishing, playing board games and loving her pets.

Mrs. Roling was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 63 years, Edward Earl Roling; and one granddaughter, Whitney R. Roling; six sibings, Russie Sears Gilliard, Caulie Sears, Coleman Hiram Sears, Sr., Geneva Sears O’Steen, Gertie Sears Adams and her twin sister, Hazel Roling.

Survivors include his two sons, Richard Roling (Marie) of Jacksonville and Steve Roling of Lake City; one daughter, Kathy Slade (Frank) of Lake City; one sister, Phanita Sears Rife of Texas; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for Mrs. Roling will be conducted on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at 11:00 AM in the Gateway-Forest Lawn Memorial Chapel with Pastor Cagney Tanner officiating. A time of visitation with the family will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM on Wednesday. Interment will follow at Riverside Memorial Park in Jacksonville, Florida at 3:00 PM.