Suzanne Rowland

Suzanne Thomason Rowland, 87, of Greenwood, passed away Friday May 23, 2025 peacefully at her home. Born in Greenwood, South Carolina, she was the daughter of the late C.Y. Thomason Sr. and Aline Zimmerman Thomason. She graduated from Greenwood High School with honors in 1955, and after two years at Converse College, a semester abroad at the University of Mexico, she received her B.A. from the University of South Carolina in 1959. She was an active member of the Kappa Delta sorority. After graduating from college, Suzanne did field work in psychology and substitute taught school before meeting and marrying her husband, Bud Rowland, at a horseshow in Lexington, Kentucky, where they shared a lifelong love of horses. Suzanne loved all animals, and they loved her, rescuing any creature that needed help which led her to a stint serving as the President of the Greenwood Humane Society, and a perpetual menagerie of animals that worshiped her. Suzanne served as a board member on the C.Y. Thomason, Sr. Foundation and was always grateful to be able to serve many philanthropic ventures. She was a quiet, gentle woman with a love of reading and a love of all things Archaeology, which took her to Egypt on a dig at the pyramids and anywhere else she could find an open dig site. She especially enjoyed spending time in the low county working with acclaimed archaeologist, Jim Michie on the dig site in search of the lost home of Theodosia Burr Alston. She felt most at peace digging for antiquities and exercising her love of history. Suzanne had a deep love of horses that knew no bounds, she was a champion saddlebred rider from early childhood, traveling the country in pursuit of her passion. Suzanne also loved horse racing and was ahead of her time as a young woman, owning her own Steeplechase horse, her beloved, Humus, which took her all the way to the winners circle of the famed racetrack at Saratoga. Suzanne was a loving mother, grandmother, and surrogate mother to many that found their way to the door steps of her "Big House" - fondly calling them her lost boys, and she loved every one of them. Surviving are her children, Brent Rowland, Bayne Rowland, both of Greenwood, and Paige Rowland (Michael Dietz) of Los Angeles, CA; grandchildren, Evan Smith, Olivia Rowland, William Rowland, Madison Dietz; a great grandchild, Karleigh Smith; and a brother, G. William Thomason (Nancy) of Greenwood. Suzanne was preceded in death by her late husband, Vernon "Bud" Rowland, Jr. and a brother, C.Y. "Bub" Thomason, Jr. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 pm Wednesday May 28, 2025 at Main Street United Methodist Church with Pastor Steve Keck officiating, followed by graveside at Edgewood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Bill Foster, Sam Rowland, William Rowland, Mackenzie Tharpe, Tom Thomason, and John Bracknell. We especially thank Jamie Morgan and Evelyn Wilkerson for their unwavering support and care of our loving mother. We would also like to extend sincere thanks and gratitude for the compassionate care provided by the staff at Hospice and Palliative Care of the Piedmont. Memorials may be made to Main Street United Methodist Church, 211 N. Main Street, Greenwood, SC 29646 (www.mainstreetgreenwood.org), Hospice and Palliative Care of the Piedmont, 408 W. Alexander Avenue, Greenwood, SC 29646 (careofthepiedmont.org), or to the Humane Society of Greenwood, PO Box 49776, Greenwood, SC 29649 (www.gwdhumanesociety.org).

Suzanne Rowland

November 26, 1937 - May 23, 2025

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