Never in my life have I met a man more filled with joy, possessing a more memorable, contagiously engaging laugh than Sidney Roland, Jr. When you were around him he just made your heart lighter. When you left him you couldn’t wait to be in his company again.
That’s why it’s with such sadness that our community greets the news of his death. Simply put, he was one of the good ones.
‘Big Sid’, as he was lovingly known, came to Habersham by way of Union Point, Georgia. In 1955, he attended North Georgia Tech in Clarkesville. The following year he enrolled at Piedmont College in Demorest and that’s where he met the love of his life, Suzanne Swaim.
They married in 1958 and Suzanne became not only his wife, but his sidekick in life. They were the perfect balance of zany and sane. He, with his quick wit and humor; she with her quieter, more reserved nature. It wasn’t unusual to catch Suzanne rolling her eyes at Big Sid. It also wasn’t unusual to catch her figuratively raising the white flag of surrender as she joined in with the rest of us as we laughed at his self-effacing humor, off-the-cuff jokes and his stories (Big Sid sure knew how to spin a good yarn!). Suzanne laughed a lot. We all did.
Anyone who knew Big Sid was more than lucky…they were blessed. I’m glad I’m among them.
As a kid growing up in Bethlehem Baptist Church I got such a kick out of being around Sidney Roland. He lived up to my name far better than I ever have. He never met a stranger and those closest to him say he never spoke ill of anyone. I believe it. You can’t be filled with that much zest for life and harbor ill will and resentment.
The secret to Sidney’s joy was no secret: He was a true man of God who was strong in his faith. He taught Sunday School and served as a church deacon. At one point in his career he worked as a rehab counselor at what was then Alto State Prison. He shared the Gospel with others in a variety of ways, but none more effectively than simply by being himself. He was one of those few people you meet in life who exude happiness and make you want what they have. In Sid’s case what he had was a close relationship with Jesus Christ, and it showed.
His life was his witness.
Big Sid was gregarious, generous, loving, kind, compassionate and grateful. He often said, “I have been so blessed that I think God must have me mixed up with somebody else.”
When he was diagnosed with melanoma back in the spring, he underwent painful surgery and treatments. He could have gotten angry. He could have given up. No one would have blamed him if he did. But true to his nature, Big Sid kept on living the way he always had – perhaps the only way he knew how – in joy and faith. He kept on laughing and throwing out zany zingers, telling my mother during a recent visit he was glad his Hospice nurses were there to help Suzanne care for him. Then in typical Big Sid style he added, “Tell my pastor that I’ve been in the shower with two women!”
Yes, Sidney Roland, Jr. gave us plenty of laughs and his passing has brought lots of tears. The loss to our community is great. The loss to his family, even greater. Still, there’s happiness in our memories and gratitude in our hearts for the privilege of living and laughing along with this lovable guy named Big Sid.
Near the end of his life he often told people, “I’m ready to go – it’s been a wonderful ride!”
It sure was, Big Sid, thanks to you!
Click here for visitation times and funeral arrangements for Sidney Lanier Roland, Jr.
(feature photo by Lasting Impressions Photography)
