At Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital in Fort Polk, Louisiana, there's a portrait in the hospital lobby that tells a remarkable story. It's the likeness of Brigadier General Stanhope Bayne-Jones, the hospital's namesake, depicting a man with a steady gaze watching over the hospital and indirectly greeting soldiers, families and hospital staff.
While the general is a towering figure in his own right, the artist who painted the portrait of him earned her place in history. Margo Roll, an artist and military spouse, painted the portrait of General Bayne-Jones in 1983, leaving her signature in the corner of the canvas.
Roll recently passed away at the age of 94, with her name catching the attention of Dawn Dunbar, a healthcare risk manager with BJACH’s Quality Management Division, who realized the artist’s work had become a prominent part of the hospital’s history.
“I just knew there was a story here,” said Dunbar, in a U.S. Army news release obtained by Military.com. Dunbar reached out to the Roll family, who shared her life's story, hoping it could be preserved.
Marguerite Wood, Roll’s daughter, said her mother’s artistic gift was just another way she served her community. The family shared paintings, photographs and a scrapbook filled with old newspaper clippings documenting Roll’s lifelong involvement in the local community.
“She loved people, she loved her church, and she loved her art,” Wood said. “And she always wanted to use her gifts for something meaningful.”
Roll was born September 10, 1931, in Rockaway, New York, and later moved to Louisiana with her husband, retired Chief Warrant Officer Ernest R. Roll, who served as an Army Criminal Investigation Division special investigator. Roll in her own right built a reputation as a respected artist, teacher and custom framer.
At BJACH, other paintings by Roll hang in the hospital, including landscape scenes depicting Louisiana’s natural beauty. Every painting is an artistic nod to the region and the military community at Fort Polk.
“BJACH exists to deliver combat-ready care and ensure warfighter readiness,” said Col. Patrick W. Miller, commander of BJACH. He said Roll’s work represents the relationship between the hospital and the people it serves. “But our mission is only possible because of the people who stand beside us — our staff, our Families, and our community partners. Mrs. Roll’s artwork reflects that bond, and her legacy will remain part of this hospital for years to come.”
Roll’s influence also reached beyond BJACH and into the neighboring community, where her work is displayed at RealArt DeRidder Arts Cooperative. Betty White, president of the Beauregard Parish Art Guild, said Roll helped shape the organization from its earliest days.
“Her work will continue to be displayed and shared with the community as an inspiration to others,” White said.
Roll's daughter, Marguerite Wood, said her family is proud of her mother’s connection to BJACH.
“She didn’t talk much about recognition,” Wood said. “But she cared about leaving something behind that mattered — something that would still be here long after she was gone.”
The portrait of Bayne-Jones serves that purpose -- as a reminder of the hospital’s namesake and the artist who painted his portrait, Margo Roll, a woman whose service and dedication shine with every brushstroke.
