Aug. 20, 1926 – Jan. 24, 2019

NATCHEZ — Services for Ethel Clay Rowan, 92, of Natchez, who died on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, in Natchez, will be 11 a.m. Thursday at New Zion Baptist Church No. 1 with the Rev. Ernest Ford Jr. officiating.
Burial will follow at the Natchez National Cemetery under the direction of West Gate Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. today at the funeral home.  Visitation will continue from 10 a.m. until service time Friday at the church.
Mrs. Rowan was born Aug. 20, 1926, in Natchez, the daughter of Andrew Clay and Rebecca C. Clay.
She was a retired private duty caregiver and a member of New Zion Baptist Church No. 1.
Mrs. Rowan was a historian and loved telling old family stories and enjoyed flower gardening.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Leroy Rowan Sr.; five children, William Rowan, Leroy Rowan Jr., Trim Rowan, Lynn Rowan and Mary Margaret Rowan King; four brothers, Andrew Jr., Solomon, Oliver and Roger Clay; two sisters, Estelle Clay and Edna Mitchell; one grandson, Van Laurant; and great- granddaughter, Twanda Williams.
Survivors include four daughters,  Vertis Flanagan, Jerlain King, Donna Laurant and Anna Patricia Williams and husband, James; one son, Lawrence Sedric Rowan; one sister, Rebecca Whitted; stepdaughter, Alice Skinner and husband, Bill; sister-in-law, Nancy Lewis; a very special niece, Shirley Clay Sashfras; 16 grandchildren, Reginald, Kevin, Garrett, Erica, Kelisha, Terri Lynn, Keith, Allison, Monica, Efference, Daryl, Shonda, Chance, Crystal, Richard and Marquita;  11 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.