Clifford Gettys Rowland

Cliff was born on September 11, 1933, in McMinnville, TN, and was the son of Colville Thomas Rowland and Edith Vance Rowland. He was married to Janet Gae Bloss on April 25, 1959, in Tulsa, OK.

Surviving are his daughters, Nanette (David) Luna, Melanie (Michael) Thurmond, and Cliffann (Chris) Ferguson; grandchildren, Eric Luna, Myles Luna, Davis Luna, Tori Thurmond, Jillian Swope, Aaron Close, Austin Ferguson, and Connor Ferguson; and great grandchildren, Harper, Harrison, Hayes, Holland, Hadleigh, and Haven Luna, Alexander and Anden Swope, Jackson, Reid, Joey, Regan and Maybry Close, Piper, Beau and Sawyer Ferguson; and great great grandchildren, Grayson, Anastaia, and Xander Swope. As well as his beloved cat, Mia. She was his faithful companion and gave him much joy for over 10 years.

Preceding Cliff in death was his wife of 62 years, Janet; his parents; his sister, Carolyn Rowland; his grandson, Jason Close; and his great grandson, Cash Ferguson.

He was a longtime member of Woodmont Hills Church of Christ.

Cliff attended and graduated from the following schools: 1951 - Central High School, McMinnville, TN, 1951-1952 - David Lipscomb University (Pre-Pharmacy), and 1954 – University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN (Pharmacy).

Cliff was a pharmacist for 35 years. At 22 years old, he was the youngest pharmacist at the time to graduate and begin working. His career started in Jackson, Mississippi in 1955 with Walgreen Drugs. He then moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1956 and worked with Getman Drugs. In 1963, he relocated his family to Nashville, TN and took a position of store manager and pharmacist at Wilson Quick Drugs in Belle Meade. From 1968–1990, he moved to Revco Drug Company and was store manager and pharmacist at the Donelson and Brentwood locations.

Cliff was an avid gardener. He had a large garden filled will tomatoes and okra. His famous homegrown tomatoes were known and loved by family and friends. In addition to his vegetable garden, Cliff tended gardens filled with beautiful roses, iris, and azalea bushes. He also had a variety of hydrangeas, butterfly bushes, tulips, hostas, and rhododendron bushes blooming in the yard.

Cliff spent many years as a beekeeper, with hives in the backyard and at the family farm in McMinnville, TN. With Janet, Nanette, and Melanie by his side, they would process the honey from the hives and share with friends and neighbors.

Melanie and Nanette would like to express a special recognition to Jacqueline Sudano, owner of Compassion Care Inc., and her team of loving, thoughtful, and dedicated caregivers who cared for their dad: Kim Brown, Brittany Lavender, Coty Lavender, Tweedy Smith, KaMaria Smith, Ella Webster, Jason Carmona, and several others.

Additionally, they would like to recognize two special and devoted private caregivers, Cheryl Kinslow and Shirley Craig, for their personal companionship, friendship, and kindness throughout the years. Cliff always looked forward to spending the days going out to lunch with them, watching old westerns on the television, talking….and napping!

A private celebration of Cliff’s life is being held on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at 12:30 at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home, 660 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN 37204. The visitation will be from 10:30 am until 12:00 pm on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Cliff’s honor to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org or the Nashville Cat Rescue, P.O. Box 140898, Nashville, TN 37214 / nashvillecatrescue.org.