Obituary of Roland Samuel McWilliams

Roland Samuel McWilliams, 85 of Birmingham, passed away on March 2, 2024, in Birmingham, Alabama. Graveside services will be held at Pine Hill Memorial Park, Talladega, at 2:00pm, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Mr. McWilliams was a native of Talladega, the son of Ramy and Ola McWilliams. He graduated from Munford High School and Auburn University, becoming a lifelong fan of the Auburn Tigers, ‘WAR EAGLE’. Roland met his future wife, Lou Holloway, when employed by Savannah River Nuclear Plant in Aiken, S.C. He served as an officer in the 307 th Engineering Battalion, 82 nd Airborne Division, and was Paratrooper and Ranger as a result of his participation in ROTC at Auburn University. He made 27 parachute jumps and was a jumpmaster, the person responsible for checking everyone’s equipment and getting them out the door. He lived by the Motto: “Be all you can be.” Mr. McWilliams proudly participated in charitable organizations such as Metro Sertoma Club where he became a lifetime member, held multiple offices, gained many friends, and raised money for local charities. Sertoma’s mission is to service mankind. He was also highly involved with ASHRAE whose mission is to serve humanity by advancing the arts and sciences of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, and their allied fields. He was the retired CEO of McWilliams Associates, PC (Mechanical Engineers) in Birmingham. Roland is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Alton, R.L., James, Carl, and Kenneth, his sisters Emma, Lillian and Jeanne, their spouses, and sister-in-law Dolores (Troy). He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lou Holloway McWilliams, daughter Jennifer Joy (Aaron), his grandchildren Sam Armstrong (Cassidy), Rebecca Armstrong, and Emily Reed (Jack), great granddaughter Abigail Armstrong, and Aaron Joy’s daughter, Haley Joy. Memorial Contributions can be made to: Birmingham Sertoma sponsorship fund 3557 Bermuda Drive , Irondale, Al. 35210 Usrey Funeral Home in Talladega will direct the services.