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Obituary for ROLAND A. PLATER, SR.
Roland Alexander Plater, Sr. was born May 9th, 1921 in Sunderland, Maryland. He was the fifth of seven children born to the late Florence Parker Plater and Earnest Alexander Plater. Somehow he earned the nickname “Big Baby.” He attended public schools in Calvert County then joined the Army at the age of 17. It was World War II and after bootcamp, he was sent to the Philippines. He worked as a communications technician and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. Because his father had died…he sent money home to help his mother and younger siblings. After the war, he began working construction…building roads and bridges around the State of Maryland. He met and married Malinda Irene Brooks. They became entrepreneurs. Together they launched several businesses. First a dry goods store on Dares Beach Road…eventually they became School Bus Contractors. They helped build the Beacon Light Seventh-day Adventist Church in Annapolis, Maryland. Then they founded the Emmanuel Seventh-day Adventist Church in Prince Frederick, Maryland. Roland worked in various positions including treasurer, deacon and local elder. Malinda preceded him in death. He is survived by their children, Roz Plater, Dr. Marsha Plater, Roland A. Plater, Jr., Queenie Plater, Joan Plater and Jonathan Plater... A daughter-in-law Dana Plater and seven grandchildren…Ryan, Brooke, Allison, Kaitlyn, Matthew, Paige and “Little Queenie.” Another son, Thurman Plater, daughter-in-law Eudora and grandson Carlos, and great grandchildren Isaiah and Jeremiah also survive him. He is also survived by his niece, Doris Spotswood, who was raised with him like a sister, three sisters-in-law, Volley Brooks, Lettie Brooks and Gertrude Plater…along with a host of other nieces and nephews.
