Bobbie Haynes Rowland

Bobbie Haynes Rowland, PhD, age 96, died peacefully in her sleep at Caromont Regional Medical Center on July 12th, 2025.

She was born May 29, 1929, in the family home in Cherryville, NC, daughter of Andrel Hall Haynes and Ethel Ritch Haynes.

In addition to her parents, Dr. Rowland was preceded in death by her husbands, Walter Alvin Carnes, Jr., and Ralph Clinton Rowland. She was also preceded in death by her brothers Jack and Charles Haynes, and sister Donna Ingle Blachford, as well as her son in law Roger Dale Lemmond.

She is survived by her two beloved daughters Linda C. McConnell and Laura C. Lemmond of Gastonia, granddaughter Mollie M. Jimison (Lance) of Cramerton, grandson Patrick W. McConnell (Emily) of Gastonia, grandson Michael A. McConnell (Kellie) of Belmont, granddaughter Caroline M. Pearce (Brian) of Greensboro, great grandchildren Lucas, Liam, and Gabrielle Jimison, Margaret, Rowland, and Andrew McConnell, Samuel Hayes, Mason and Lily Green, Lillie McConnell, and Charlie and Keller Pearce. In addition to these, she is survived by many loving nieces and nephews and their families.

Dr. Rowland was raised in Gastonia, NC, graduating in 1947 from Gastonia High School. It’s fitting that throughout life she added a spark to any room, as she was nearly struck by lightning as a small child, burning her feet and being knocked to the ground. When she was only 14 years old, she took her first job at the Diana Shop in downtown Gastonia her original “worker’s permit” was framed and proudly displayed in her study, where it remains to this day. Perhaps she needed to earn money for the gasoline she burned up when, at 13 years old, she would take her napping father’s car keys and go for a spin around town. She would continue working in some form or fashion for the next 77 years. Dr. Rowland earned her first of three degrees from what was then Women’s College of Greensboro (now UNC Greensboro) in 1951. It was during her undergraduate years in Greensboro where she met a dashing swimmer on the UNC Chapel Hill Swimming and Diving team, and they struck up a romance. She and Walter would marry shortly after her graduation and begin life as a military family, as Walter was a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force. After giving birth to Linda in Houston, TX, and Laura in Salina, KS, tragedy would strike when Walter was killed in a military plane crash at Smokey Hill Air Force Base in Salina, KS.

At only 27 years of age, Bobbie returned from Kansas as a widowed mother of two. Never one to bow to convention, she was determined to make her mark in an era that was often unkind to strong, independent women. Her first task upon returning to Gastonia was founding the Through the Week School at First United Methodist Church. In 1966, she took the girls from Gastonia to Greensboro, earning her master’s degree and later her Doctor of Philosophy from UNC Greensboro. It was during this time that UNC Charlotte administrators recruited her to form a curriculum for college students in what would become known as Child and Family Development. She spent 30 years building and leading her department, making lifelong friends, and mentoring countless students, graduate students, teachers and administrators along the way. It was during her time at UNC Charlotte that she developed her love of world travel. For decades, she led field study programs to dozens of countries around the globe. Dr. Rowland would retire as Professor Emerita from UNC Charlotte in 2003 but remained active in the field of instructor assessment and curriculum development for the NC Pre K program until 2019. One of Dr. Rowland’s proudest professional accomplishments was working with State Senator Helen Rhyne Marvin and other influential political leaders to secure approval and funding for public kindergartens across North Carolina.

Bobbie was always integral to the community she lived in. She sat on or chaired dozens of local and regional boards, including the Gaston College Board of Trustees, and was the first woman elected to the Gaston County Board of Education. Her awards, which are too numerous to name, still dot the walls and shelves of her study for her family and friends to admire. In addition to her civic and community engagement, she thoroughly enjoyed putting on a show. Whether it was with George and Ellen Gray at the Little Theater of Gastonia, or with her friends at the FUMC Theater downtown, Bobbie was never scared to dance (the cancan at least once), sing, or even brandish a weapon (Annie Get Your Gun) in the name of entertainment. Bobbie was a lifelong Methodist and member of First United Methodist Church of Gastonia. To her last day, she was in awe of the people and opportunities that God gave to her throughout her life. She saw it as her duty to use those gifts of kind people and good fortune to lift up those around her, particularly children. She genuinely believed that every child was exceptional, and she spent her entire adult life trying to convince the world of her conviction.

At home, she was an active mother to Linda and Laura, and in 1966 she married Ralph, who immediately became part of the family fabric. They enjoyed trips to her mountain house in Jonas Ridge, beach vacations to her place in Windy Hill, and many other adventures at home and abroad. Her family jokes that each of her houses could serve as an international museum of culture and art due to the artifacts and decorations brought home from afar. In the mountains, Bobbie was known to take the Oldsmobile across running creeks when bridges weren’t an option. When she wasn’t cast in a show or visiting the mountains or coast, she could often be found at Bank of America Stadium, cheering on the Panthers and berating the current offensive coordinator from section 545. She and Ralph were original PSL owners and she kept her season tickets until her death. She also spent many April mornings as a patron on the grounds of Augusta National, taking in The Masters with her Georgia family. Later in life, she particularly enjoyed watching Mollie, Patrick, Michael, and Caroline grow into adults and family leaders of their own. Her biggest smiles were saved for them and later, her great-grandchildren.