Claudia Nance Rollins was a devout Christian, a talented musician, a dedicated elementary school teacher, and a gardener so gifted with plants and flowers that her extended family in Catoosa County often compared her gardens to a beautiful painting. But Mrs. Rollins was first and foremost the mother of O. Wayne and John W. Rollins, both successful entrepreneurs and business men.

Born on September 28, 1886 to Robert and Emma Nance, Claudia was one of nine children raised by a widowed mother in the rural community of Smith Chapel. When she was 24, she married a local farmer named Henry Rollins, a man whose quiet strength and quick temper were a perfect match for the energetic and insightful Claudia. An early champion of education, Mrs. Rollins helped the community build churches and schools. She was known to all as a neighbor who always helped the less fortunate, someone who set in motion the very principles of philanthropy that her sons later embraced.

As a mother, Mrs. Rollins impressed upon her two sons that they could achieve anything through honesty, integrity and hard work. She encouraged her sons to work harder than anyone else, to always strive to be better than average, to be leaders not followers, to dare to dream, to aspire, to achieve great things, and to never forget the importance of family. Her two sons never failed to heed their mother’s words and collectively founded eight different companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Claudia Nance Rollins lived to be nearly 90 years old. She died on April 13, 1976.

LIFT is honored to have this facility named in honor of such an extraordinary woman from our community. The legacy her sons continue to build in her name is a beautiful testimony of their commitment to Catoosa County.