Charles James Rowland

Charles Rowland is survived by his son, Anthony, wife, Ingrid Rowland, grandsons, Tony B. Rowland, Seth Rowland, and Chris Rowland, daughter, Terri Rowland-Fields, grandson, Michael Alan Fields, sisters, Eunice Harding, Betty Rowland, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other family, and friends.

Charles was born on 2/19/38 in Baldwin, Mississippi. At some point, the family decided to move to Nashville. Charles resided in a kind and loving household where he developed a love of music and a passion for gardening and farming at an early age.

Charles was the third sibling of four children... Eunice Harding, Betty Rowland and Jerry Rowland. His younger brother Jerry Rowland died at an early adult age.

He developed an extraordinary work ethic at a very early age from doing odd jobs for the family of Morris Haddox. Haddox, a good friend of Charles, eventually became a pillar in the Nashville Community. In the meantime, Charles would soon develop an interest in a career of firefighting after serving as a fire safety patrol monitor at Fort Green elementary school. He went on to work at the Tennessean Newspaper but still kept a keen interest in realizing his dream of becoming a member of the Nashville fire department. In addition, Charles was multi- talented in many areas. Having an interest in music he became a skilled trumpet player and an avid gardener. While a hard worker, He still found time to be of service working with the handicapped as he drove for the blind and spent time sharing with those who could not perform activities of daily life. His passion was gardening in which he became extremely adept ...in other words, he learned to care for others and to find good, even in worst of us.

His parents Nona and Chester Rowland were well-liked and respected by people in the community. Nona Rowland was a kind, loving Mother and Grandmother who was a prolific nurturer who provided an extraordinary living example of a virtuous, righteous and hardworking woman. His father Chester aspired to be a newspaper salesman, but eventually went to work at the LN Railroad and became a financial mainstay for many in need of funds in the community. In fact, many of his clients were staff and students of the Meharry Hubbard Hospital. This set a tremendous example of a good work ethic for his children and grandchildren and many others who knew him.

Following his parents' example, Charles saved his money, helped with his high school needs and college funds. He became one of the band leaders at Pearl high school as a Trumpet player, being a part of the old guard of a TSU aristocratic band that has now reached outstanding achievements and grammy award winning status to date.