Through their 27-year marriage, Rolvin and Dee felt strongly that they should have a place to live and make a welcoming home for people in need.  Initially, it involved adopting a five-year-old autistic child from Kazakhstan.  Then Rolvin’s parents moved in — his mother with lingering Alzheimer’s. Later, a friend leaving a bad marriage needed a place to stay and they made room. 

Sometimes it was family members in school for learning disabiities.  Other times, it was launching kids from high school, trying to help them succeed in the military or get into some kind of technical school. At one point, there were multiple high school-aged nephews and a friend’s son living with them.  Once, it involved Dee becoming the guardian of a baby so the mother could finish her diploma and make her way in the military. There was a girl who left an abusive relationship of five years — and after nine months with them, she returned to her parents for a new start.   Several girls they supported went on to military training and positions with the Georgia National Guard, the United States Navy, and the Washington National Guard.    

Dee and Rolvin offered their home for graduations, proms, 4th of July celebrations, and neighborhood gatherings.  Their longest-running and most beloved group was the YokeFellows, a men’s bible study that lasted for over 27 years.  For many of those years, that study was located in their home. 

 For the last five years, Dee and Rolvin have done home hospice care for Dee’s parents — her mother with dementia and her father with Lewy-Body dementia.   

 Dee’s mother died on July 7, 2023.  Dee’s husband was diagnosed with Glioblastoma — aggressive, inoperable brain cancer on July 20, 2023.  Dee’s dad died on September 18, 2023.  Her beloved Rolvin died the next day, on September 19, 2023.   

 Dee and her daughter Alif still keep in touch with all of the people who have called her home their home.  She keeps it open as needed to those God brings to her door.  As Rosaria Butterfield says, “The gospel comes with a housekey.” 

Praise His Name