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Charles Rowland
Charlie E. Rowland
1/16/16 --- 7/3/2000
GLENNVILLE - Charlie Ebin Rowland, former mayor of Glennville died July 3 at home. He was 84.
He was born in Buena Vista, Tenn., and moved to Glennville in 1952 from Jacksonville, Fla. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He was a merchant, was the owner and manager of Western Auto Store for 10 years and the owner for 18 years of Dream Home Furnishings in Glennville. He also was the owner and operator of Glennville Acceptance Co. And Swap Shop for the last 25 years. He served as president and secretary of the Chamber of Commerce and received special recognition for his service to the community.
During his tenure as mayor he initiated the project to extend the city limits of Glennville in order to realize more from revenue sharing. In 1971, he headed the project to build a police station and in 1972, he initiated the project to build a fire station. In 1973, he launched the project for a recreation center and received a grant from HUD for land and ball fields. During his 12 years as mayor, he led projects to pave several dirt streets. In 1972, he also initiated the project that formed the Glennville Industrial Authority. And at a later date, he formed the Downtown Development Authority.
Other projects of his career included spearheading projects to create two parking lots in downtown Glennville, building the present courtroom with new offices, and opening a welcome center. He was instrumental in opening the City of Glennville Sanitary Land Fill and assisting the Garden Club to obtain funding for the Garden Club Center renovation and paving for parking.
He encouraged Fort Stewart/Glennville relationship and membership in AUSA. In 1986, initiated jail renovation from a 50-50 state grant.
He was president of the 1st District Georgia Municipal Association from 1972-1973. He was a member of Glennville Lions Club, where he served as secretary and treasurer for more than 24 years, the editor of the Lions Club Bulletin for 30 years and received the Monarch Award for 40 years of service and received the Melvin Jones Fellow Award for service to Lions Club International for 55 years.
He served on the Community Affairs State Committee and received the Small Business Award from President Gerald Ford in 1976. He was an honorary member of Victory Division, 24th Infantry Division "First to Fight," of the Army. He also served on the Advisory Committee of Altamaha Planning Commission. He was a member of Glennville United Methodist Church, where he had served as chairman of the trustees, the Administrative Board, Finance Committee, president of the Methodist Men and a member of Carol Cowart Sunday School Class.
SURVIVORS: his wife, Susan Crawford Rowland of Glennville; two daughters and a sons-in-law, Judy and Willie Bland of Glennville and Suzanne and David Woodrum of Savannah; a sister, Leoca Bennett of Hollow Rock, Tenn.; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He was the son of Arthur and Liza Rowland of Hollow Rock, TN.
VISITATION: 6-8 p.m. Today at Cobb Funeral Home, Glennville.
FUNERAL: 11 a.m. Thursday at Glennville United Methodist Church, burial in Glennville City Cemetery.
Hubert C. Baker Funeral Home, Hodgson Memorial Chapel, Savannah, and Cobb Funeral Home in Glennville.
REMEMBRANCES: Hospice of Hinesville, Lions Club Camp for the Blind.
Note: According to his Social Security Death Benefit, his birth date was listed as August 30, 1915.