WILLIAM BRYANT ROGERS SR.
Aug. 19, 1921-March 12, 2012
William Bryant Rogers Sr., 90, passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2012, at Wayne Memorial Hospital.
Sometimes in life you will meet the peacemakers and you will meet the warriors. William Bryant Rogers Sr. was the epitome of both.
He loved his wife and family with a fierceness seen so seldom in this life. He loved God, and would tell anyone and everyone just how blessed his life was to have a loving God in charge of his life.
He was born in Wayne County Aug. 19, 1921, to proud parents Charlie and Smithey Rogers.
He had a sister, Edna Mozingo.
He met his future bride when she was at the tender age of 8 and he was 10. He informed her at that time that she would be his bride.
He was married to his wife, Irene Ham Rogers, for 71 beautiful years and 11 months. He married her in 1940.
He went to serve his country and to protect the rights and freedoms of the family he left behind.
During this time he and his beautiful bride were blessed with the children, William Bryant Rogers Jr. (wife, Jean), Judy Rogers Godwin and Ann Rogers Morse.
He returned home a "hero" to his family.
After the war, Bryant went to work for Keebler Cookie Co., and became his family's "Keebler Elf."
Another daughter blessed their lives, Mary Lou Rogers Garner (husband, Bill), and his circle was complete.
Of course, with children come grandchildren. Bryant was blessed with so many grandchildren, but it was the grandchildren who were truly blessed. He showed them kindness and love and that you disciplined a child with love and the love flow back to you.
His grandchildren include David Godwin (wife, Julie), Kelly Rogers Strickland (husband, Jerry), Dawn Morse Campbell (husband, Steve), Brent Rogers (wife, Patty), Jeffrey Morse (wife, Catherine), Darlene Godwin, Jaime Bevan Coble (husband, Kenny) and Haley Bevan Monaghan (husband, Pat).
This was a man that not only embraced who his children and grandchildren loved, but readily accepted them "as his own" and loved every one of them.
Bryant was blessed with great-grandchildren as well, Candyce Godwin, Taryn Godwin, Marisa Godwin, Ryan Strickland, Zachary Strickland, Jackson Coble, Caroline Coble, Grant Rogers, Bladen Rogers, Nick Rogers, Robert Morse, Frank Morse and futures on the way.
He left a legacy of love for these children that every one of them is important to the family, has a role to lead and that God will see them through anything.
He had a sister-in-law that he sometimes forgot the "in-law" addition. Gladys Ham Walker was thought of and treated with all the gentleness of a natural born sister, without the sibling rivalry.
He was a warrior for God and for his family. There was nothing he would not do for either, but at his heart he was a peacemaker that showed with his actions, words and his beautiful face how much you were loved and how important you to him.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 15, 2012, at 7 p.m. at New Hope Friends Meeting, with Bill Garner and the Rev. Andy Stovall officiating.
The family will receive friends following the service in the Family Life Center.
Interment will be held Friday, March 16, 2012, at 10 a.m. at Wayne Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association at P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, Va., 23058, or the American Cancer Society at 930-B Wellness Drive, Greenville, N.C., 27834.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on March 14, 2012 1:50 PM