Roland E. Conaway

ROLAND E. CONAWAY was born August 18, 1959, in Baltimore, Md., the third of ten children to Alexander Gamble Sr. and Naomi Louise Gamble. On September 10, 2024, The Good Lord saw fit to transition Roland from this world to the next, surrounded by family and loved ones at Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore, Md.

As a child, Roland had a reputation for being a little mischievous. Whether it was playing hooky from school or getting reprimanded (you know what that means) for taking chickens off the chicken truck and bringing them home with no idea of what he would do with them, Roland had a knack for stirring up the kind of trouble that would keep people laughing for years to come.

He and his siblings were raised in the fear and admonition of the Lord. He was baptized as a teenager at New Bethlehem Free Will Baptist Church by Pastor James Stepney. Being raised in church, they all knew they had to serve, so as a youth, he sang the Lord's praises as part of the choir.

Roland was educated in the Baltimore City School System and graduated from Frederick Douglas High School in 1978. He later pursued his love for the culinary arts through his work, preparing food for the masses as a cook at Goucher College; Roland was later employed at Emerge as a driver for the clients.

He later became a corrections officer for the Maryland House of Corrections Annex Building. Roland took his experience as a CO and worked as a Security Officer with John Hopkins Kennedy Krieger Institute for many years, receiving numerous awards for his dedicated service. His contributions to his community were significant and his absence will be deeply felt.

Affectionately known by the many who knew and loved him as Rol-Rol or just Ro. He was the ultimate jokester. His comedy always left a lasting mark on everyone he met. He once jokingly convinced his nieces and nephews that he was a doctor with six additional degrees, which is why many of them even to this day refer to him as Uncle Doctor Rol-Rol with six degrees. His good natured personality would show up before he entered the room. Rol loved to laugh, joke and make people smile. His comedy performance at the family reunions made him a hit with the congregation of Mt. Moriah in Sussex, VA, and he was asked to tell a joke or two during the Sunday morning Service. He loved to cook, especially seafood, although he was allergic to seafood, which was a testament to the joy he got from preparing and presenting his meals to others. Above all this, Rol loved his family deeply.

In 1988, while traveling to work, Roland met the love of his life, Delarese-Watts and they fell in love instantly and shared many years of love and laughter with their family. On April 15, 1995, he married the love of his life, Delarese Watts and they continued to build a life together with their blended family. He always kept a smile on her face throughout their time together, and she could be heard laughing at his jokes, saying, "Oh, Roland". She preceded him in death on July 11, 2022. Roland's love for his family was deep. He was always the first to call on birthdays and holidays. In his last moments of consciousness, he had the nurses call his Baby Girl Cha and said "This is it. I love you, babt. Tell Everybody I said I love them."

His memory will live on through those seafood platers to a good game of pinochle with his siblings or a game of pool with his grandson.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alexander and Naomi Gamble, two brothers (Clarence Sr. and Kevin), and his late wife, Delarese Conaway.

He leaves his legacy of love for family to his two sons, Sean Harriston and Jordan Cook; four daughters, Ricshawner and Chawanda Tisdale, Towanda Evans and Tanya Powell; nine grandchildren, Sampson, Darius, Dominic, Sean Jr., Khi'lee, Wandysheia, Quantanya, Donyelle, Maurice and Nariah; four great-grandchildren, Brooke, Demi, Paige, Jordan Jr. and Denum; six sisters, LeEtta Linton (Jackie), Valarie Conaway, Tonja Henson (Kenneth Sr.), Rhonda Austin, Charlene and Angel Gamble; one brother Alexander Gamble Jr.; two sister-in-laws Kim Moore (Alonzo) and Joyce L. Hudson; nieces, Tiara, Charvel, Kim, Lachelle and Kennedy; nephews, Justin, Clarence Jr., Alexander III., Lonnie, Kenneth Jr., Christian, Isaiah and Joshua; great nieces, Cassidy, Lilly, Aniya, Violet, Trinity and Serenity; great nephews, Case, Karson, Kai, Zaire and Nicolas; aunts, Carrie Parker (James) of Petersburg, VA, Juanita Brown, Courtland, VA,; uncles, Morris Conaway (Marguerite), Raymond Conaway (Lisa) and Kenneth Conaway (Rebecca) of Coutyland, VA; a host of cousins, godchildren and friends.