Dr. Romie Earl Roland
Photograph obtained from The New York Times.
Romie Earl Roland — or, as he became later, Dr. Roland — grew up one of seven children in Georgia. His father was a porter. Romie’s interest in the medical field found its roots in his early friendship with Dr. Walter Haynes, his school dentist. The two met when Romie was in second grade. As a young boy, he was shy and had a slight speech impediment. Romie attached himself to the dentist, visiting frequently to watch him work. “I think what he wanted was a true friend,” Dr. Haynes reflected years later in an interview with The New York Times.
As Romie grew older, Dr. Haynes became more like family. Romie invited Dr. Haynes to his school play; Dr. Haynes and his family took Romie to museums and on outings, and even brought Romie to live with them for a year. For college, Romie attended Lincoln University, a historically Black university and Dr. Haynes’ alma mater.
After college, Romie attended Meharry Medical School in Nashville. Following medical school, he returned to his hometown for a residency program at Nassau County Medical Center, a hospital serving the area’s impoverished residents. Romie specialized in anesthesiology. A 1988 New York Times article following Romie’s intersecting personal and professional trajectories describes Dr. Roland as a valued professional in the hospital, able to connect intimately with patients because of his own ties to the area.
On July 2, 2020, while incarcerated at FCI Jesup in Georgia, Romie tested positive for COVID-19 and was immediately placed into isolation. Six days later, on July 8, he was taken to a local hospital for treatment and evaluation. Unfortunately, his condition worsened; on July 22, 2020, Dr. Romie Earl Roland lost his battle with the coronavirus. He was 61 years old.
On July 22, Romie became one of too many victims of the intentional negligence of correctional officials in Georgia. His death was avoidable and unjust. We stand with Romie’s loved ones in mourning his loss.
This memorial was written by MOL team member Frances Keohane with information from reporting by Michael Winerip of The New York Times and Justin Kaliebe of Medium.
