Mildred Aarine Rowland, 89, of Belzoni, passed away on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at Merit Health River Region in Vicksburg.

Born on May 4, 1937, in Yazoo County, she was the daughter of James Aaron Miller and Mildred Pettigrew Miller. She was raised in Vaughan. After graduating from high school, she attended beauty school and worked as a hairdresser for over 15 years. Aarine married Terrell Martin, and together they had two daughters, Debbie and Terrie Jo. Years after their divorce, she married Boyce Rowland, and together they built a life defined by hard work and togetherness. Aarine’s work ethic carried into many walks of life—she drove a public school bus for several years, ensuring children arrived safely each day. Alongside her husband, Aarine was an essential part of their fish pond operations, tending to the hatchery, checking oxygen levels, and moving fingerlings with care and expertise. She was never afraid of taking on new tasks: she drove tractors and bean trucks, even delivering beans to the elevator herself.

 Aarine and Boyce also enjoyed traveling together, especially their trip to Europe and Germany. She also enjoyed her trips with her sister to North Carolina to visit family. She was known as a strong woman—capable and hardworking. Beyond her work, Aarine was a faithful and devoted member of Beulah Baptist Church. She found great joy in participating in church and family gatherings, especially when it came to her fondness for sweets. It was well known that Aarine would sample a bite of nearly every dessert and dish, savoring the company and the flavors alike. Her country home on Four Mile Road was a hub of warmth and generosity, where she cooked dinner every day for her grandson and the extended Rowland family. Simple pleasures, like baking cornbread, picking pecans, making the best pecan pies, and tending to her yard, brought her happiness. She enjoyed working with Linda and Gail cleaning houses for several years. Even in her later years, she remained active outdoors, trimming hedges, raking the yard, picking up limbs, and managing household tasks until just a couple of years ago.

Aarine is survived by her two daughters, Debbie Martin Herring of Belzoni, and Terrie Jo Martin Turnage of Pearl; three step-sons, Johnny Rowland (Linda), Charles Wayne Rowland, and Earl Rowland (Gail), all of Inverness; her sister, Wilodean Brister of Pickens; 11 grandchildren, Steve Herring, Samantha Gonzalez, Shaeffer Pennington, Max Turnage, JoJo Rowland, KoKo Rowland, BoBo Rowland, Wayne Rowland, Kelli Rowland Bearden, Elizabeth Rowland Stout, and Ryan Rowland; 22 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband of 28 years, Boyce Rowland; and her siblings, James Allen Rowland, Harold Lloyd Miller, Charles "Sonny" Miller, and Maxine Coates; and a nephew who was like a brother, Ben Coates.

Friends and family are invited to a visitation to honor Aarine's life on Thursday, August 13, 2026, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 302 Pecan Street, Belzoni, Mississippi. The funeral service will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the same location. Burial will follow in Greencrest Memorial Gardens in Belzoni. Burton Funeral Home of Indianola has been entrusted with arrangements.