Former Rowan Tax Assessor Jerry Rowland, who worked for the county for more than 20 years, died Thursday in Charlotte after suffering a stroke several days earlier.

Rowland, 71, suffered a stroke on May 29 and died after a stay in Charlotte’s Presbyterian Medical Center, according to friends. Rowland was remembered by friends and former co-workers as honest and hard-working with a great personality.

“If you’re lucky enough to have somebody come into your life that has an impact like he has, then you’re a truly blessed person,” said Barbara McGuire, who worked with Rowland directly for years. “He was the most humble person I’ve ever known. He used to say ‘I’m good because of the people that surround me.’ ”

McGuire started working for Rowan County in the tax office in 1989. Rowland came to Rowan County in 1988, she said.

Rowland officially retired from full-time Rowan County employment in 2012. However, he continued working with Rowan County until this year, where he helped with the 2015 revaluation. McGuire said she talked to him in the tax assessor’s office the day before he suffered a stroke.

Planning Department Ed Muire, who worked just down the hall from Rowland, said he was first and foremost a gentleman.

“Due to the nature of his former position as tax assessor, there are numerous opportunities for opposition and confrontation and my observations were that he was always fair and good natured,” Muire said. “I believe that is testament to his tenure in the position. He is a personality that will certainly be missed.”

Rowland was born on December 8, 1943 in Statesville. He was the son of the late Annie York Rowland and Frank James Rowland.

He graduated from Statesville High School before attending the University of South Carolina. He also served in the U.S. National Guard.

In addition to working for Rowan County, Rowland also owned R.G. Rowland Appraisals.

He was a lifetime Lutheran and member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury.

Darryel Scism, a good friend of Rowland, said Rowland enjoyed golf. The pair had a beach trip scheduled for this weekend.

“All I knew was sadness,” Scism said about Rowland’s death. “I was very emotional and still am about it all.”

Scism said he and Rowland became friends because they had children of similar ages and lived in the same neighborhood.

Scism said that he was amazed Rowland was able to do his job and still get along with so many people.

Rowland is survived by his wife Jane English Rowland; daughters Julia Rowland Boone, of Boone and Sarah Rowland Rutledge, of Cornelius; brother Richard Rowland, of Statesville; Gene Rowland, of Conover; sister, Jane Weikel, of Jacksonville, Fla; grandchildren Ella and Robert Boone and step-grandchildren Hannah and Madeline Boone.

Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday June 7 at Summersett Funeral Home. Services will be 11 a.m. Monday on June 8 at St. John’s Lutheran Church with the Rev. Rhodes Woolly officiating. Burial will follow at City Memorial Park cemetery.

Memorial may be made to St. John Lutheran Church, 200 W. Innes Street in Salisbury.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246