Valera Rolling

Annie Valera Rolling, 98, a resident of Petrey, Alabama, passed away peacefully in her home on Monday, July 14th, 2025. Funeral services for Valera will be held at 2 PM on Wednesday, July 16th, from the Chapel of Turners Funeral Home with her son, Brother Danny Rolling, officiating. She will then be laid to rest beside her husband in Petrey Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday for one hour prior to the service.

Valera spent her working career at W.L. Petrey Wholesale as an administrative assistant for over 37 years until her retirement. It wasn't a bad gig when you only had to walk across the street to work for all those years! She was also a lifelong member of the Church of Christ and loved her church families at Petrey Church of Christ and later at Luverne Church of Christ. At home, she lovingly tended to her beautiful flowers around her house so that her yard was always one of the prettiest in town. She was also a phenomenal cook so you better call yourself lucky if you ever got a meal or dessert from her kitchen. Her family certainly always looked forward to her prized pound cake she never failed to cook for their birthdays. Before her years at Petrey Wholesale, she loved taking care of children in her home for several years...which never failed to leave children in tears when their parents "forced" them to leave her house and go home!!

Valera was blessed with what every Christian should hope to possess, a servant's heart. There were few things she loved more than to help others. She never failed to step up to help anyone in need, whether family, friend, or stranger. She was a quiet soul which made her a phenomenal listener. You could take her your troubles anytime where she would patiently listen to everything on your heart, even if all you needed was someone to vent to. Valera also had strength of body and mind which helped her endure all the slings and arrows life could throw at her. You never failed to know what her values and principles were, nor where you stood with her...a rarity in the world these days. In her free time, she was an avid reader of the Lord's word, her Bible, and was always excited when she was able to spend time worshipping her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, with her church family for as long as she was physically able.

Above all, she was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who was the foundation her family was built upon. Like any grandmother, those grandchildren and great-grands were her heart and she absolutely adored them more than anyone else on this earth. Words could never properly express just how much she meant to all of them nor how much she meant to them. She will be missed beyond measure, just as she was loved the same.

Valera was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 63 years, Maynard "Cat" Rolling; parents, Isaiah & Zelma Edwards; and siblings, Thomas Edwards, Henry Guy Edwards, Bertie Lee Lebaron, and Fannie Pearl Johnson. She is survived by her treasured children, Wayne (Vicki) Rolling, Linda (Danny) Reynolds, and Danny (Lisa) Rolling; grandchildren, Hunter (Emily) Rolling, Justin (Ashley) Rolling, Stephanie Forte, Chris Reynolds (Crystal), Brandon (Amy) Rolling, and Brandi (Nick) Thomas; great-grandchildren, Mary Ross Rolling, Bass Rolling, Annalise Glover, Esme Glover, Elin Rolling, Madison Reynolds, Trinity Forte, Destiny Forte, Joseph Reynolds, Weller Rolling, Bailey Mays Rolling, Henry Thomas, and Emmett Thomas; sister, Dovie Jean Long; special friend & caretaker who became part of the family, Helen "Spookey" Willis; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members.

Active pallbearers will be Hunter Rolling, Justin Rolling, Stephanie Forte, Chris Reynolds, Brandon Rolling, and Brandi Rolling Thomas.