Anna Felice McCray Roland, age 93, of Malvern died Friday, May 18, 2007 at Arkansas Hospice in Little Rock . She was born in Malvern on September 9, 1913, to the late Dr. Elwood Huffman McCray and Perle Etta Rhoden McCray. A lifelong resident of Malvern, she attended Henderson State Teachers College ( Henderson State University ) where she received her teaching certificate. She taught school for a few years but soon discovered that marriage and motherhood were her true calling. While rearing three children, she made time to play the piano for the children's Sunday School classes at her church and to raise beautiful flowers in her garden.

In the years after her children were grown, Anna became more involved in her favorite activities, such as golf and bridge. She volunteered as a hospital "Pink Lady" and was a member of P.E.O., the Malvern Horticulture Club, and the United Methodist Women church circles. Anna was an artist. She used oils and pastels to create beautiful paintings. She also had a flair for china painting and lovingly shared her hand-painted pieces with family and friends.

Anna was a friend to many, young and old alike. For eleven years she worked in the principal's office at Malvern High School as assistant secretary/registrar. A few lucky students with whom she interacted were captured by her wit and charm and became lifelong pals with her. Growing up in a prominent and closely knit family, Anna had a host of friends who, through the years, shared many of life's aspects with her. They attended school together; they married and had children; they were widowed; and they grew old - all within a few miles of where they were brought into this world. She always treasured the "simplicity" of her life. She will be missed.

Anna Felice was married to Robert Douglas Roland on September 20, 1935, in the First Methodist Church in Malvern. He preceded her in death on May 23, 1968. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Elwood McCray and Dr. Raymond McCray. She is survived by two sons, Robert Douglas Roland and his wife Rose Marie Kruger Roland of Clarence, New York, and Frank Warren Roland and his wife, Regina Lile Roland of Conway, Arkansas, and by a daughter, Sara Felice Roland Bond and her husband, David Thompson Bond of Williamsburg, Virginia. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Bryan Kruger Roland, Brock McCray Roland, Erin Felice Roland Haynes, Sara Lile Roland Harbison, Benjamin Thompson Bond, and Lindsey Felice Bond White, and five great-grandchildren, William Roland Harbison, Anna Margaret Harbison, Etta Lile Haynes, Anna Ray Haynes, and Zachary Thompson Bond.

Her funeral will be held on Tuesday afternoon, May 22, 2007, at two o'clock in the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church with The Reverend J.Stephen Wingo officiating. Pallbearers will be Bryan and Brock Roland, Benjamin Bond, Ricky Doss, Rickey Fitzhugh, and Mike Burris. Interment will follow in the family plot in Oak Ridge Cemetery .

The family will receive friends on Monday evening, May 21, 2007, from six until eight o'clock at the J. A. Funk Funeral HomeMemorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Malvern or to the Arkansas Hospice.

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