Jerry Monroe Rowland

Mr. Jerry Monroe Rowland, age 85, passed away on Monday, January 19, 2026 at his home in Americus.

Funeral services are planned for 1:00 PM on Friday, January 23, at First Methodist Church, with Rev. Daryl Brown officiating and Alwen Yeung and Jenny Ledger providing musical accompaniment. Interment will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Tifton.

The family will receive friends on Friday at First Methodist Church, between the hours of 12:00 & 1:00 PM, and at other times at the home of Jennifer and Allen Ledger, 375 Clements Road in Americus.

The following gentlemen are asked to serve as pallbearers: Lee Royal, Bryce Woodward, Matthew Ledger, Jeremy Ledger, Jerry Rowland, Jr., and Braden Rowland.

Members of the Wesley Epworth Sunday School Class of First Methodist Church are asked to serve as honorary pallbearers.

Born December 6, 1940 in Tifton, Georgia, he was a son of the late Monroe Rowland and the late Helen Florene Shiver Rowland. He was a member of First Methodist Church and the Wesley Epworth Sunday School Class, and he loved singing in the Church choir. Mr. Rowland was a Mason and a member of the Lions Club.

He dearly loved his family, and his beloved wife Dianne, with whom he enjoyed trips to the mountains of North Carolina where they had a cabin in Franklin. 

He attended Georgia Tech until his father passed away at which time he returned to Tifton to help with S&R Shoes (later Sam Neill Shoes), his family's shoe business. While working in Tifton, he attended ABAC and also worked in his family's shoe stores in Columbus. He then returned to school in Athens, attending the University of Georgia, where he obtained his MBA and began teaching at the University. He then moved to Americus and began teaching Marketing and business classes at Georgia Southwestern State University where he implemented the co-op program in 1975, and helped start the local chapter of the American Marketing Association.  Eventually retiring as a popular Professor whose students affectionately nick-named themselves "Jerry's Kids", he truly loved his students and enjoyed teaching.  A teacher at heart to everyone he met, he truly experienced and enjoyed life and the people in it.  Mr. Jerry loved everyone in a selfless sacrificial way.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Martha Dianne Dillard Rowland; a daughter and son-in-law, Laura Rowland Royal and Chris Royal; grandson Zachary Royal; and great-grandson, Jace Royal.

Survivors include his children: Jennifer Rowland Ledger (Allen) and Jerry Rowland, Jr. (Dana); six grandchildren: Lee Royal (Tiffany Hendrix), Sara Royal, Matthew Ledger (Hannah), Bryce Woodward (Jenny), Jeremy Ledger (Ally Ledlow), and Braden Rowland; two great-grandchildren: Jordan Royal and Jackson Royal; sister, Theresa Swan (Eric); brother, Danny Rowland; sister-in-law, Carol Hambrick; and several nieces and nephews.

For those wishing to do so, memorial contributions are suggested to First Methodist Church, 200 South Lee Street, Americus, GA 31709 or Crisp Regional Hospice & Palliative Care, 202 E. 4th Ave., Cordele, GA 31015.

To sign our online guestbook and express your condolences to the family, please visit www.hancockfuneralhomeinc.com

Hancock Funeral Home, 427 S. Lee St., is honored to be entrusted with these arrangements for Mr. Jerry Monroe Rowland.