The family of Mary Ann Rowland, with sadness and much love, share that she peacefully passed on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at the age of 84. Mary Ann was born on Dec. 24, 1940 in Nashville to the late Catherine and Roy Batson.

When she was a young girl, her family moved to Shelbyville. She graduated from Central High School in May of 1958. Mary Ann met Wallace Rowland at one of her summer jobs. Their courtship led to marriage. Later, the couple moved to Tullahoma when Wallace took a position with Peoples Finance Company. Throughout her marriage, Mary Ann was a homemaker and mother to their two daughters, Lisa Rene and Donna Lynn, and supported Wallace during his many years of pastoral ministry. After her children were grown, Mary Ann became a realtor, worked for a local realtor/broker, and eventually began buying and managing local rental properties as part of a privately-owned family business in Tullahoma.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by an infant son, Granville Scott Rowland; mother, Catherine Nelson Batson of Shelbyville; and father, Roy Scott Batson of Nashville. She was also preceded in death by three brothers, Joseph Henderson Arnold of Shelbyville, Samuel Stewart Arnold of Shelbyville, and Carl Franklin Arnold of Fayetteville. Mary Ann is survived by her husband, Wallace Rowland of Tullahoma; daughter, Lisa Rene Devine (Alan) of Franklin; grandsons, John Nelson Devine (Stacey) of Nashville, and Steven Chase Devine of Franklin; daughter, Donna Lynn Sassaman (David) of Fort Worth, TX; grandson Kevin David Sassaman (Marisa) of Arlington, TX; granddaughters, Kelly Nicole Reeder (Lane) of Fort Worth, TX, and Katelyn Mary Patterson (Chris) of Fort Worth, TX; five great-granddaughters, Aslyn, Avery, Leoni, Emery, and Margot; and two great-grandsons, Barrett and Archer.

Visitation for Mrs. Rowland will be held on Sunday, July 13, 2025 from noon-2 p.m. Funeral services will immediately follow in the Kilgore Funeral Home chapel with Bro. Tim McGehee officiating. Burial will follow at Willowmount Cemetery in Shelbyville with Kevin Sassaman, Nelson Devine, Chase Devine, LeeRoy Cunningham, Marty Scott, and John Rickman serving as pallbearers. For those who wish, the family asks that donations in Mary Ann’s memory be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital- 501 St. Jude Pl. Memphis, TN 38105-9959.

Kilgore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Tullahoma News – July 13, 2025