NATCHEZ — Services for James Rowan Jr., 84, of Natchez, who died Tuesday, June 15, 2010, at Natchez Regional Medical Center, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Kenneth Stanton officiating.

Burial will follow at the Natchez National Cemetery under the direction of Webb Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mr. Rowan was born March 6, 1926, in Natchez, the son of James and Elnora Stampley Rowan. After graduating in 1944 from Brumfield High School, he was drafted into the U.S. Air Force. He served during World War II from 1944 to 1946 in Hawaii, Saipan and Okinawa.

Mr. Rowan attended Tougaloo College for three years, initially majoring in pre-med. He graduated from Alcorn State University with a bachelor of science degree in education.

While attending Tougaloo College, he began teaching as band director in Meadville. He later taught in the Mississippi Delta.

As a young man, he accepted Christ as his personal savior under the leadership of Dr. J.N. Rucker at Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church.

James “Jimmy” Rowan loved music and played several different instruments, but played the trumpet more than any other instrument. He traveled across the country with the theatrical production “Satchmo” in which he portrayed the character, Joe Oliver, Louis Armstrong’s mentor. He also played with a local band in Natchez during the early 1990s.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Gloria Jean Ware and Claudia Rowan Marsaw; and one brother, Charles Rowan.

Survivors include two sisters, Gladys LaBeaud of New Orleans and Delores Brown of Hartford, Conn.; two brothers, Joseph Rowan and wife, Elaine, and Clarence Rowan and wife, Evelyn, of Chicago; a number of nieces and nephews, Sharon Herbert, Darryl, Pierre and Faith LaBeaud, all of New Orleans, Elnora Rowan of Hartford, Felicia Scott and husband, Johnny, of Magnolia, Katra, Lasharme, Conya and Gary Rowan, all of Country Club Hill, Ill., Natasha Clifton and Akilah King, both of Nashville, Tenn., Charles Rowan Jr. and Joseph A. Rowan, both of Chicago, Nile Rowan of Los Angeles, and Gregory Marsaw of Jacksonville, Fla.; two aunts, Nancy Lewis and Ethel Rowan; and a special brother-in-law, Levi Marsaw III, all of Natchez.

Pallbearers will be Charles Rowan Jr., Gregory Marsaw, Pierre LeBeaud, Joseph A. Rowan, Diallo Herbert and Johnny Scott.