Mary Rowland

Mary Kathern (Craft) Rowland, 85, of Jacksonville, left her broken & weary earthly body and entered her new heavenly body on May 27, 2014, surrounded by her loving family.
She began this life on January 10, 1929 in the Ozark hills of Leslie, AR. She was one of 14 children born to Joe & Ida (Blair) Craft.

Mary moved to Little Rock at the age of 15 to work as a traffic counter at 5th and Louisiana. She was working as a "Soda jerk" at the Economy Drug store when she met the love of her life, Darrell Rowland. They were married on April 2, 1946 in Benton, AR.

Although they lived in Washita, AR, Seaside, OR, Rock Springs, WY, and Columbia, MO, they settled in Little Rock to raise their family. Mary doted on her four daughters and made sure they were always dressed beautifully and every curl was in place. Being that she was such a young mother, she often said that she grew up with her children.

Mary was famous for her green thumb and she grew a beautiful vegetable garden every year, supplying many friends & family with fresh vegetables, only after her first fruits were given to the Lord.

She and Darrell were members of Word Aflame Fellowship, formerly First United Pentecostal Church, for over 50 years, and have been faithful members of the First Pentecostal Church in NLR for 9 years.

Mary is survived by her husband of 68 years, Darrell Rowland. They have been a shining example of what a faithful and God-centered marriage looks like, falling more in love with each other every day, and showing true love and dedication to each other and their family.
Mary is also survived by her four beautiful daughters: Kathern Slaten of Lonoke, Thelma (TJ) Townsend of Sherwood, Linda Dyson (Charlie) of Jacksonville, Louise Carlisle (Jerry) of West Little Rock.

Nine grandchildren: Lauri Hill, Angela Justice (Keith), Jay Townsend, Charlyn Griffith (Brad), Sandy Carter (Rob), Lena Ferguson (Jeremy), Stephen Carlisle (Holly), David Carlisle (Teresa), Jeremy Carlisle (Courtney).

Fourteen great-grandchildren: Stephanie Pack (Thomas), Heather and Bethany Hill, Nicole Rodriguez, Darren and Summer Waddles, Jade Gray (Cody), Payton Justice, Nelson and Lauren Ferguson, Dyson and Addie Carter, Abby Anne, Lizzie & Gideon Carlisle. One sister, Josie Towe of Russellville, & one brother, Edwin Craft of Texas.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, 8 brothers: Christopher, Shade, Lester, Clyde, McKinley, Danis, Noah, and Lawrence Craft; and 3 sisters: Zella Slater, Shirley Adams, & Zora Thomas.

Funeral service will be 12:00 p.m. Saturday, May 31, 2014, at the First Pentecostal Church of NLR on Calvary Road. A visitation will be held at the church from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday. Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 2nd, at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery. Online obituary and guest registry at SmithFamilyCares.com.