James Cecil Gowans, Sr. age 72 of Rowland, passed away on Thursday, October 15, 2020, at Southeastern Regional Medical Center in Lumberton, NC. 

A memorial service will be conducted at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2020, at D&A Funeral Services Chapel, 212 South Wilkes Street, Chadbourn with Dr. James Scott officiating. A private burial will follow. 

A walk-through viewing will be held from 3:00-4:45 p.m prior to the service on Wednesday, October 21, 2020, at D&A Funeral Services Chapel.

He is survived by his wife Early Mae Nealy Gowans; daughters Kathy Gowans, Mary Gowans, Janis Gowans, and Martha Bellamy all of Whiteville, NC; son Aaron Askews; sisters Barbara Prescod, and her husband Vandean of Fayetteville, NC, Orilla Tart of Maxton, NC, and Linda Tart of Laurinburg, NC; brothers Larry Blue of Fayetteville, NC and Joe Blue of Rowland, NC; twenty-six grandchildren and thirty-two great-grandchildren.