Rowell touched the lives of many during his many years of leading church choirs, providing inspitation
Members of Cora Baptist Church and the Jay community are mourning the sudden death of Choir Director Roger Glen Rowell, 64, who died April 3 after he took a fall down a set of stairs at the church.
Rowell's wife, Joy, said the death was ruled accidental and that he had been to the doctor that day for his six-month diabetic checkup. She said doctors could not rule out a heart attack, but that there was no way of knowing, since he had not suffered a heart attack in the past.
“He always lived in the middle of Berrydale and an older sister introduced us,” said Joy. “We lived in Milton when we got married, but we knew we wanted to move to the country, and build a house.”
She said they built a house in Berrydale in 1988, where Rowell led the church's music for 25 years at Berrydale Baptist before he went to Oak Grove in Walnut Hill, Fla.
“Then we came to Cora for the last four and a half years,” she said, “he could not read music, but had a perfect ear. He could hear a song, and knew automatically how the song went. He played guitar and bass for a group called Highway Home. If he was to sing something, he could pick out the notes on the piano and harmonize with anybody.”
Joy said that all their grandchildren and children can sing and grew up singing in the church.
“All three of ours are involved in church,” said Joy. “The older two do solos and sing in groups. Glen had sisters who could play the piano by ear. He also sang with a sister and niece and they called themselves Unity. He directed regular choir practice and sang with other people at the church. He had a big voice so he lead the music at the church.”
The couple has three children, two sons and one daughter. She said son Chadwick Glen Rowell is active in the First Baptist Church of Milton, and works as assistant principal of Milton High School.
Daughter Misty McMath and husband Joey and their three children attend Woodbine Baptist Church in Pace, where she works with children and music in the church choir.
Son Rhett Rowell works as a part-time dean at Jay High School where he also teaches economics and government. He and his family attend First Baptist Church of Brewton and his two children, ages 8 and 11, can play piano by ear and sing.
Joy said Sunday after her husband's death the church had an event that offered those who knew her husband the chance to honor him, and talk about the way he had touched their lives and their memories of him.
“He was a good man and had a lot of talent, but the best thing he did was be a pawpaw,” said Joy. “He liked to talk to each one of his grandchildren and firmly encourage them. He was very proud of their musical ability. We had two grandsons who won the Tropicana Speaking Contest last year in different age categories, and they won again this year. They will go to county next week. Both boys have won their contest since their grandfather's death, so they were speaking under great pressure. We had a granddaughter who won also.”
The suddenness of Rowell's death has been a shock but she said she felt the church was the right place.
“It's very traumatic for the church family, because it happened at the church,” said Joy. “It will be difficult, they really loved him, he would hope something good would come out of it, that peoples' lives would be changed in some way because of it. He had just finished choir practice, like he had just finished his job.”
Mr. Rowell was born April 29, 1954 to John Pasco and Hazel Lewis Rowell. A lifelong native of Berrydale, Fla., he worked for 38 years for the Florida Department of Transportation and Construction and retired as a project administrator. Serving as music minister in various community churches for more than 35 years, he was music minister for Cora Baptist Church, where he was a member.
A memorial service was held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 9, at Berrydale Baptist Church. Burial was held at the church cemeterys with Lewis Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Rowell is survived by his wife of 45 years, Joy Boothe Rowell; two sons, Chadwick Glen (Jessica) Rowell of Milton and Rhett Alexander (Lana) Rowell of Jay; one daughter, Misty (Joey) McMath of Pace, Fla.; one brother, Frank (Pearl) Rowell of Jay; one sister, Dinah Colonna of Florala, Ala.; seven grandchildren; and numerous nephews, nieces, extended family members and friends.
Mr. Rowell was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Herbert “Bud” Rowell of Berrydale; three sisters, Evelyn (Hub) Jacobs, Jane (Harold) King and Wanda Roberts, all of Berrydale; one grandchild; and other family members.
