Rowland Strickland

Armie Rowland Strickland, Jr., 78, passed away in the early morning hours of Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at his home in Stantonsburg after a period of illness. At his side was his devoted wife and caregiver as well as his friend A.T. Sink.

Funeral, Friday, 2:00 PM at Wilson Memorial Service, followed by visitation.

Rowland was born November 7, 1947, to Armie Rowland, Sr. and Mary Hall Rollins Strickland at North Carolina Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. He grew up in the Emit Community of Johnston County where he attended Friendship FWB Church and first learned to love and trust God. His faith led him to become a lay speaker at Stantonsburg UMC and many other churches.

Rowland first met Jane Lee Vann in the first grade and was smitten by her in the fifth grade. He always said that from that time forward he knew she would become his wife. He was valedictorian of the 1966 Corinth-Holders High School class and then entered UNC Chapel Hill. After he graduated from the UNC School of Pharmacy and Jane earned her graduate degree at UNC Greensboro, they were married on June 20, 1971.

They immediately moved to Stantonsburg where Rowland affiliated with Kenneth Edwards at Stantonsburg Drug Company. There he designed and implemented Patient Medication Records which became the model recommended for pharmacy computer software. He purchased the pharmacy in 1981 and earned certifications in Orthotics, Prosthetics, Pedortics, Homeopathy Therapy, Compounding Medicine, Patient-Centered Counseling for Diabetes Care, and Immunizations. He practiced pharmacy for 43 years and was grateful for his patients' loyalty, kindness, and friendship.

Rowland is survived by his wife, Jane; son, Jonathan Vann Strickland and grandson, Robert “Bobby” Wyatt Vann Strickland of Cincinnati, OH; sister, Nancy Pendergrass (Linzy) and nephews, Thomas Pendergrass (Lauren) and Daniel Pendergrass (Leslie); sister-in-law, Carolyn Vann Anthony and her children Kim A. Williams (Mikah) and James P. Anthony.

Rowland was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Magdalen “Maggie” Adele Weigent Strickland; parents, Armie Rowland, Sr. and Mary Hall Rollins Strickland; father and mother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. T.L. Vann of Zebulon.

The family wishes to express their loving appreciation to Gentiva Hospice and specifically caregivers Lauren Walker, Janice Clark, Meagan Spivey, Juvasia Graham, and Crystal Gowen for their excellence in providing care to Rowland and support to Jane. Additional special thanks are sent to other long-time friends Brenda Beaman and Teresa Perkins for their consistent support, love, and encouragement through our medical journey. Our family loves all of you.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl, Memphis, TN 38105 earmarked for neuroblastoma.

Arrangements by Wilson Memorial Service, 2811 Fieldstream Dr. N, Wilson, (252) 237-7171, www.wilsonmemorialservice.com