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Condolences:

Nancy Smith Hankin

We love the entire Rowland Family. Such happy memories of our time as neighbors. Especially when our families traveled to the Bahamas together. Such an adventure.. Your dad was very special! Much love to all!

Rick Rowland

What an incredible father! And that lead to our having wonderful parents with our mother Carol at his side. My parents were both God-sent blessings to us 4 boys. Mom and Dad, I pray diligently for your souls so that you may be united in the beatific vision of God for eternal happiness that surpasses our ability to know as mortals. Thank you God for Marshall and Carol Rowland as they were a blessing to MANY lives.

Jerry Smith

Even when he was upset, he'd bounce back to his congeniality with that smile. He had a way with life so few people can approach. The team always worked their best when Marshall was part of the plan. We will meet again! God Bless those who must remain behind and enjoy the memories.

James LeVerne Smith

Farewell to my dear friend and classmate. My deepest sympathy to the family.

Ricky Portier

My condolences & prayers to the Rowland family.

Allen Hall (Russ Miles)

Marshall played a major role in my radio career by giving a young kid from North Carolina an opportunity to develop his own style and on air personality. I am grateful for the years I spent at WQIK. Marshall was a colorful and successful entrepreneur. There was always something else coming around the bend for the 'Ol Country Boy. He lead a full and fun life. My condolences to his very extensive family.

Chuck Vann

Rest in peace Marshall. You were a great boss and friend. Chuck Vann (Andrews)

Tara Rowland

Susan Ebbinghouse

Thinking of you all and the early years we had with you and your parents on South Fletcher Avenue. My father always found your father fascinating.

Bill Bryan III

What a fine and fun guy to be around! He will be missed.

Linda Miller

Jim and Barbara Williams

We are sad to hear this. Prayers for the family. We along with my parents Norman and Chris were good friends for decades with Marshall and Carol. He often came with his steel guitar and sang and played. We have cherished memories!

Jim and Barbara Williams

We are sad to hear this. Prayers for the family. We along with my parents Norman and Chris were good friends for decades with Marshall and Carol. He often came with his steel guitar and sang and played. We have cherished memories!

Franklin Griffin

Marshall was always a treasured citizen of Jacksonville. He was a great businessman and team builder. WQIK and I feel certain it was true in his other stations, was a family affair that the employees treasured. Rest in peace, Marshall. You were a giant credit here. Blessings in Heaven.

Jan

I'm so sorry for your loss! Your Dad, Mr. Rowland was a cherished member of our community! He was such a kind & caring person. He will be missed greatly! He brought me his book and we visited for a while the last time I saw him. 💕

T.K.Hilton

Marshall Truly A Gentleman A Great Friend Of Mine We Played So Many Songs Together You Were The Best Of The Best I Will Always Love And Remember Our Friendship.

Leroy Boomer

What a first class guy and a radio, promoter and musical genius! He gave this 23 kid an opportunity to be the morning guy on his baby, WQIK! Enjoyed working for him and being his friend, I amen eternally grateful! RIP ole friend, so you down the road.

Susan and Scottie

Gary Byrd

Steve Thomas

I had the honor of working for Mr. Rowland when he hired me part time via Rusty Walker in 1978 to broadcast weekends on WCMG, the AM side of WQIK at that time. His son Brian later brought me to the FM side of the station full time in 1983. Mr. Rowland and his family were always very kind and gracious to me and my family. Those are some of my greatest memories with WQIK and my time with the Rowlands. May you find comfort and peace a we celebrate the great legacy and special memories of a very good man. Blessings

Linda Miller

Alan Brady

Marty, Rick, Brian and Stephen, your dad was a truly “larger than life” figure, in our family and his community. Our condolences and prayers for you and your families. God bless.

Maureen Mullaney

Brian & family, I am so sorry to hear the passing of your beloved Dad. He touched so many lives. May he Rest In Peace.

Tim and Pat Middleton

We are thinking of you during this difficult time and pray for your strength, peace, and comfort in the coming days.

Debbie Smith Hibberts

I am so sad to read about the passing of your Dad. What great memories we have of your family during your time in Tampa. To this day, we still talk about the magical summer we went to Walkers Cay with y'all. On behalf of the Smith family, I send our deepest condolences. He was one of the good guys!

Patrick Mullarkey

Mr. Rowland took a chance on me as a salesman in 1979, I was 19 years old. I don't think he thought I would make it, but retired in 2023 after 44 year's. He was very generous to me and my family. He took my wife and I to Walkers Cay in the Bahamas numerous time's. A true Southern Gentleman, he will be missed, rest in peace my friend!

Patrick Mullarkey

Brian Rowland

Thank you, Dad. Thank you always for your love, guidance, enthusiasm, creativity, generosity, and so very much more. We will never forget you and always, always, love you.

Pam Mize Cipolla

Marshall William Rowland

2025-01-11

Marshall Rowland passed away on Saturday evening, January 11, 2025, in Fernandina Beach, less than two weeks before his 94th birthday.

Marshall was born in Brunswick, Georgia, January 23, 1931, to John Alexander Rowland and Chloe Frances Rowland (née Trippe). His father's family originated from Walhalla, South Carolina and his mother's from Vienna, Georgia. At age 5, after losing his mother, Marshall moved to Waynesville, Georgia, where he was raised by the McSweeney family while his father traveled as a building contractor.

Growing up in Waynesville, Marshall was a good student, learned the value of hard work washing bottles at the Gibson dairy, and become a talented musician. At 16, after graduating from Nahunta High School, he got a call and was hired to play steel guitar for Tiny Grier and the Florida Playboys. On July 6, 1947, he walked off his grocery bagging job and caught a bus to Jacksonville.

The Florida Playboys played live on the radio and Marshall caught the attention of station management who hired him to be the morning disc jockey at WJHP in Jacksonville where he met his bride, Carol Casey. He parlayed his music career, with Carol, to own WQIK - Jacksonville, WQYK - Tampa, WDEN - Macon, and several more stations in Florida and Georgia. Marshall and his brother Bobby, both flowing with talent, enthusiasm, energy, and charisma, built those stations to legendary status in their respective markets.
He was also a country music show promoter, booking the likes of Merle Haggard, Marty Robbins, Waylon Jennings, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Glen Campbell and many others, in cities across Florida and Georgia. Marshall "discovered" country comedian Jerry Clower and booked him on his first ever live performances as opening act for Charley Pride, and they remained lifelong friends.

Marshall had many friends in the Jacksonville business community and was even roasted by numerous country music stars for the Spina Bifida Association and given a key to the city by Mayor Jake Godbold. He enjoyed many wonderful years with Carol and their boys, traveling to the Bahamas, across the U.S. and to Europe. He loved boating and was a member of the Northeast Florida Marlin Association where he won the 1986 Billfish Tournament with a 318-pound blue marlin! Marshall was also president of the Greater Jacksonville Fair Association in the early 1980s. He loved his many musician friends in the Jacksonville area and greatly enjoyed playing at the Woodbine Opry and at the Dinsmore Community Center and having jam sessions with his friends. He was an excellent steel guitar player, and also played piano and guitar.
Marshall was a member of several Methodist churches over the years in the various places he lived and was most recently a member of First Baptist Church in Fernandina Beach.

He is pre-deceased by his parents, his sister Dorothy Jane, his brothers Bobby, Paul, John and Ed, their wives, Gwen, Gloria and Frances, a daughter-in-law Vicky, and his beloved wife, Carol. He is survived by his sons, Marty (Debi), Rick (Tara), Brian (Liisa) and Stephen (Meredith). He is also survived by his grand-daughters, Jacque, Casey (Ryan Underwood), Marlena (Artie Mellos), Hannah, Chloe and Linnea, and a grandson, Patrick, as well as his great grandchildren, Monroe Burch, Harlow Koutnik, Wyatt and Isla Underwood, and Nicholas Mellos. He is also survived by several nieces including Valree Peralta, Laura Paul and Tonia Pickren, and nephews, Robert "Bubba" Rowland, Jr., Gene Rowland, Gary Rowland, Vaughn Rowland and Sammy Rowland, plus his bonus grandkids Marshall Bernard, Heather Brackens, Lila DiBias, Alex DiBias, Sophie Cox, Maggie Raczynski and Harley Raczynski.

The family offers its sincere gratitude to Karen Elomaa and Jackie Cannon, Marshall's nurses who greatly assisted with loving care in Marshall's final months.

A visitation will be held at 10:00am with services starting at 11:00am on Thursday, January 16, at First Baptist Church, 1600 South 8th Street, Fernandina Beach.

A private burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in St. Mary’s, Georgia.

Memories

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