MOUNT VERNON — On Wednesday, August 11, 2021, Brewton-Parker College (BPC) dedicated a newly renovated and expanded dormitory in honor of the late Mr. John E. Roller. Family of Mr. Roller was in attendance as well as over seventy members of the community.
The dedication speakers included Dr. Steven Echols, BPC President, Mr. Joey Fountain, Mayor of Mount Vernon, Mr. Ellis Wood of Ellis Wood Contracting Co., Inc., and Mr. Don Christian, Chair of the Holland-Underwood Foundation.
The dormitory celebrates the life, and memory of John Edwin Roller, a lifelong advocate of Brewton-Parker College. Mr. Roller was a Mount Vernon native and graduate of Mount Vernon Ailey High School and the Georgia Institute of Technology. Mr. Roller served as a commissioned officer in the Public Health Service before returning home to Mount Vernon. He worked as a civil engineer with Holland Contracting Company, which later became Reeves Construction Company. He was a dedicated road builder and continued to be associated with road work long after his retirement. As the business expanded he kept in mind his obligations to family, church, and the community which included Brewton-Parker College. For many years he was a member of the Mount Vernon City Council, Altamaha Regional Water Planning Council, Director of Mount Vernon Bank, and forever loyal to his college alma mater, Georgia Tech.
BPC President Dr. Steven F. Echols commented, “Brewton-Parker College is grateful for the very generous support of the Roller Family and the Holland-Underwood Foundation along with other donors that made possible the $750,000 renovation and addition in honor of Mr. John E. Roller. Mr. Roller was highly esteemed by all who knew him and will be remembered for his many contributions to our community and as a great friend of Brewton-Parker College.”
Dr. Echols continued, “While maintaining premium quality, the cost of the renovation and the addition was kept amazingly low due to the extraordinary efforts of general contractor, Danny Fountain, along with local subcontractors. As a result, Brewton-Parker College now has a top-quality dorm for its female students. John E. Roller Hall provides single occupancy rooms with a private bath and many other features that can compete with any dorm housing found at colleges or universities. Due to the 50 percent growth in enrollment that BPC has experienced in the last 6 years, the completion of the dorm was essential to accommodate the resident students for this fall semester. In the coming years, John E. Roller Hall will greatly aid BPC in the recruitment of students and especially top candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program recently approved by Georgia Board of Nursing.”
