Gene Louis Rollins, age 85, passed away Monday, February 26, at Region One Health Center in Memphis, surrounded by his family.

He was born on March 14, 1938 to the late Hershel Louis Rollins and Bonnie Lou (Barnett) Rollins in rural Woodhill, Tennessee. Gene was raised on a farm and expected to help out in the fields. His job on Saturday night was to shine his shoes and pick out his clothes for church on Sunday mornings at Lebanon United Methodist Church. He graduated from Northside High School in 1956, and joined the United States Army one month later, serving in Germany for two and a half years during the Vietnam War. Upon discharge, Gene worked as a car salesman in Jackson, Tennessee. Gene married Joyce Hinson on March 11, 1960, twelve days after their first date, at the New Hope Primitive Baptist Church in Milan. Gene worked at the Milan Arsenal as Statistical Engineer for eight years. In 1968, he became Production manager at Owens Corning Fiberglass in Jackson, Tn. During this time, he took educational courses at UT Chattanooga and UT Knoxville, and completed the Dale Carnegie Course in 1972. In 1990 Gene completed 60 hours of Seminary work from Thomas A. Edison State College inTrenton, New Jersey.

Gene entered the ministry of the United Methodist Church in 1970. Over his fifty-one years of ministry, he served in 22 Methodist churches: Lexington Circuit (Rock Springs, Ebenezer, Oak Hill); Carter's Chapel and Liberty All in McLemoresville; Hollow Rock and Bruceton; Bath Springs Circuit (Pleasant Hill, Bath Springs, Nebo, Old Center); Coldwater, Ky; Manley's Chapel, Shiloh and Oakgrove in Paris; Gibson-Moore's Chapel; Bradford UMC; and Union UMC. Some highlights of his ministry were when he preached 13 revivals in a row in the Bath Springs Circuit and baptized teenagers in the Tennessee River at night by car lights. Gene received the Harry Denman Evangelism Award three times. This award, given by the Methodist Conference, recognizes clergy who consistently introduce others to the Good News of Jesus Christ in all ministry settings. Recipients of this award are credited with helping to start or reignite the faith journey of an exceptional number of new Christians, An example would be when 98 people joined the church during his first three years at Union UMC.

Gene was a 32-Degree Mason and has belonged to the Milan Masonic Lodge for over 50 years, where he served a time as Chaplain. He was also a member of the International Shriners Organization.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Hershel and Bonnie Rollins; brother Jessie Rollins; sister Queenie Elizabeth Rollins; and granddaughter Raegan Ann Rollins.

He is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Joyce Hinson Rollins; three sons Ricky Gene Rollins, Gil Shane Rollins (Leah Jean), and Gary Shawn Rollins (Carla); five grandchildren Caleb Hunter Rollins, Jeremy Jaxx Rollins, Rachel Rollins Soter (Nate), Caitlin Allysee Rollins, and Claire Grace Rollins.

Funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 11 AM at the Milan First United Methodist Church with burial to follow in the Lebanon Cemetery near Cedar Grove. Visitation with the family will be held on Friday evening from 5 – 8 PM at the church and on Saturday morning from 10 – 11 AM at the church.

Bodkin Funeral Home

731-686-3111