Roland Emerson Haynes, Sr.

Dr. Roland Emerson Haynes was born in Austin, Texas on February 19, 1928 and passed away in Lexington, SC on May 22, 2017.  He was the youngest of five children born to Rev. Leonard L and Thelma Z. Haynes.

He graduated high school from Gilbert Academy in New Orleans, LA and was a graduate of Clark College, Atlanta, GA with an A.B in Psychology.  Roland continued his education to earn an S.T.B in Theology, an S.T.M. and PhD. in Psychology and Pastoral Counseling from Boston University, Boston, MA.  While at Boston University, he was a classmate of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  He served as College Minister and Professor of Philosophy at Wiley College, Marshall, TX; as College Minister and Professor of Philosophy, Religion and Psychology of Religion at Clark College; as Chairman, Department of Psychology, Southwestern College and Director of Research, Winfield State Hospital and Training Center, Winfield, KS; as Chairman, Department of Psychology, South Carolina State College, Orangeburg, SC; as Chairman, Division of Education and Psychology and Director of the Psychology Program, Benedict College, Columbia, SC; and retired after 26 years as Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, where he was the first African American professor in the Department of Psychology.  He also served as Student Pastor at St. Andrews United Methodist Church, Worcester, MA , as Pastor Second Calvary Baptist Church, Columbia, SC , as Associate Pastor, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, and as part-time Pastor, St. Mark United Methodist Church, Augusta, GA.  Roland was baptized into the Baptist faith by Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr.  During the summer of 1962, he was chosen to participate in a pilot program to integrate the US Park Service and served as a Park Ranger in Yosemite National Park, CA.

Roland had many professional memberships, served as a consultant to numerous programs and agencies, and was involved in many community service activities.  He was the recipient of numerous awards.  In 1997, the Black Psychology Graduate Students at the University of South Carolina established an award, The Roland E. Haynes Award, that is given annually to an individual or group who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to promoting cultural diversity and awareness through mentorship, community involvement, research and policy development.  Roland was a member of Omega Psi Phi, Fraternity, Inc.  Gifted with a beautiful tenor voice, he sang in many choral groups and church choirs.  As a member of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, his greatest joy was singing in the choir.

Preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Thelma Haynes, sister, Armenda H. Nelson, brothers, George, Reginald and Leonard Haynes, Jr., Roland is survived by his four children, Linda Bradley (Lindell), Roland Jr., Darryl and David Haynes, seven grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren; Jack Nelson, brother-in-law and Eloise Haynes, sister-in-law; and cherished nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services for Dr. Roland Emerson Haynes will be 11:00 am Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral 1100 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29201. Entombment will follow in Elmwood Cemetery. Reception will be from 10:00 to 11:00 am at the church.

 Service Information