James Benjamin Rowland

JB's deeply attached circle of friends and family sustained him throughout a long battle with cancer. He is now free from illness, embraced by his loving God and rejoined with his dad, Rich.

Born July 15, 1988, in Marysville, Ohio, JB was a 2006 graduate of Marysville High School, where he was a member of Swingers Unlimited show choir, marching band, and numerous theater and drama productions. His love of music, performance and the arts began early and remained a defining part of his life.

After graduating from Bowling Green State University with a degree in Visual Communication Technology, JB moved to Nashville in 2012 and quickly made the city his home. In 2015, he joined CTK Enterprises, where he served as Vice President of Digital Media. Over the course of his career, JB had the privilege of working alongside and building relationships with many of the music industry’s most influential artists and professionals.

Among the projects closest to his heart was his work with Dolly Parton and her many projects. Through his work at CTK Enterprises, JB spent years collaborating with Dolly’s team and supporting projects across her growing portfolio. His creativity, dedication and passion for storytelling allowed him to play a part in bringing some of those projects to life. His career also gave him countless opportunities to travel, experience new places, meet extraordinary people and create memories he treasured deeply.

Outside of work, JB was happiest surrounded by the people and things he loved. Music and theater remained lifelong passions, and he enjoyed working as a stagehand, being on the water and boating, traveling, board games and murder mystery nights, reading, movies, cooking, and eating good food, and spending time with his family and close friends.

JB will be remembered for his creativity, humor, generosity, love of music and performance, and most of all, for the deep and lasting relationships he built with the people around him. He leaves behind a community of family, friends and colleagues who were better for having known him.

In addition to his father, Rich Rowland, JB was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Gordon Schultz, and paternal grandparents, Benjamin and Betty Rowland.

He is survived by his mother, Kristy K. Schultz Rowland; fiancée, Shyloh Elder; sister, Katey (Brian) Yinger; grandmother, Kay M. Ballou Schultz; aunts, Terri (Randy) Schmidt and Kelly (Troy) Hanson; niece, Eleanor; nephew, Judah; and cousins, Derrick (Lindsey) Schmidt, Jordan (Elizabeth) Hanson, Grace (David) Burton and Caroline (Kyle) Kemper.

Family will receive friends beginning at 1:00 p.m. followed by funeral services at 3:00 p.m. Friday, October 2, 2026, at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home, 660 Thompson Lane, Nashville TN 37204. Following cremation in Nashville, a private interment will take place beside JB's father at Oakdale Cemetery in Marysville, Ohio. A memorial service to celebrate JB's life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 24, 2026 at First Presbyterian Church of Marysville Ohio where the family will receive friends following the service.

Contributions can be made to Dolly’s Imagination Library.

Underwood Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements in Marysville, Ohio

A Life Well Blessed.