Rowena Lord

Rowena Cushing Lord, 92, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, July 26, 2010.

Mrs. Lord was preceded in death by K.D. Lord, her husband of 51 years. She was dearly loved by her daughters, Deborah Cooper (Melvin) of Gainesville, and Dianne Perry (Steve), of Hull; grandchildren Anna Catherine Cooper Thomas (Harold), Kingsland, Mary Beth Cooper, Gainesville, Drew Perry (Susan), Danielsville, and Kimberly Perry, Hull; and great-grandchildren, Cooper Thomas, Abigail and Addison Perry; several nieces and nephews; and her extended family at Bentley Assisted Living at Northminster in Jefferson.

Mrs. Lord was a member of the First Baptist Church of Commerce and of the L.D.H. Sunday School Class. In her younger years, she was active in Sunday School, Baptism Committee, Lord’s Supper Committee, Vacation Bible School, Women’s Missionary Union (WMU), Jolly Agers and American Red Cross.

While a teenager and young adult, Mrs. Lord worked as a telephone operator at the Commerce Telephone Company, until she began the greater profession of motherhood. As the girls grew up, Mrs. Lord actively volunteered in her daughters’ school activities and multiple church activities at First Baptist Church. She was also known to lend a helping hand at Friendly Foods grocery store, where her husband was co-owner. She enjoyed working outdoors, tending their vegetable garden and her many flower gardens, which garnered them “Yard of the Week” recognition on multiple occasions. When the girls were older Mrs. Lord re-joined the work force as a teacher’s aide at Commerce High School. During their early retirement years Rowena and K.D. enjoyed trips with the seniors group of First Baptist and their newfound role as grandparents.

Following K. D.’s death, and after several medical set-backs, Mrs. Lord moved from her home on Scott Street in Commerce to Peachtree Plantation Assisted Living, and later to Bentley Assisted Living at Northminster in Jefferson.
Mrs. Lord’s love of music was first nurtured by her mother who played violin, guitar, and autoharp while Rowena and her sister and five brothers sang along. Her lifelong enthusiasm for music continued with daily doses of hymn-singing and frequent visits at the assisted living residences from children’s choirs and music therapists from UGA who were amazed that she knew all the words to hymns and secular songs from her era.
Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church in Commerce on Friday, July 30, at 11 a.m. The family will be receiving visitors at Little-Ward Funeral Home on Thursday, July 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. Burial will be at Jackson Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Music Ministry of First Baptist Church, 1345 South Elm Street, Commerce, GA 30529.

Little-Ward Funeral Home, Commerce, is in charge of arrangements.