Mr. Rogers was born in Dillon, South Carolina, on July 22, 1927, and was the son of the late Senator Robert Stonewall and Mary Bruce Parsons Rogers.
He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Sara Jean Hilton Rogers; sons Billy Gordon Rogers, Jr., (Debbie) of Lake View; Devitt Hicks Rogers of Charlotte; and daughter Jeannie Rogers Shelley (David Earl) of Latta. In addition to his wife and children, he leaves to cherish his memories seven grandchildren: Monica Jean Shelley (Marc) Calello; Erica Jocelyn Rogers (Ben) Renfrow; Billy Gordon Rogers, III; Sara Elizabeth Shelley (David) Stokes; Sara Bryant Rogers; Margaret Kirby Shelley (Matt) Davis; and Jordan Manly Rogers; and seven great-grandchildren: Ava Grace Calello, Thomas Earl Calello, Marc Oliver Calello, Brayden McCoy Renfrow, Ella Wallace Renfrow, Hampton Grey Renfrow, and Reece Ayden Stokes.
Mr. Rogers is also survived by his sister, Celeste Rogers Price, of Greenville. He was predeceased in death by a brother, Robert Stonewall Rogers, Jr., of Cheraw; a sister, Jean Rogers Winstead of Myrtle Beach; and a grandson, Devitt Hicks Rogers, Jr.
Mr. Rogers was the owner of the Dillon Realty Company and Colson Bay Farm. He graduated from Lake View High School in 1944 and received an Athletic Scholarship to Clemson University from which he graduated with a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering in 1949. His attendance at Clemson was temporarily interrupted for duty in service to his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II. While attending Clemson, Mr. Rogers was a member of Who’s Who with American Colleges & Universities, the Senior Council at Clemson University, the American Society of Agriculture Engineers, and the All State Football Team. A true Tiger Fan and life-time supporter of Clemson University, Mr. Rogers was a member of the Alumni National Council and the Clemson Founders Society. He was a member of IPTAY and the Clemson Alumni Association since 1956. He served as the 6th District Director Clemson University Alumni Association, was past President-Clemson Alumni Association, past Chairman-Clemson University Foundation, past Chairman of Board of Visitors at Clemson, past Vice-Chairman-Clemson Development Council and former President of “Alumni Past Presidents Club.” He was a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award.
A loyal and supportive member of Piney Grove Baptist Church, Mr. Rogers’ many church activities included serving as a Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, Deacon, Chairman of Deacon Board, Trustee of Piney Grove Perpetual Cemetery and Trustee of Camp Pine Hill.
Mr. Rogers believed strongly in active commitment to his community and civic organizations. During his life he served as President of the following organizations: Lake View Lions Club, the Dillon County Chamber of Commerce, Omar Oriental Shrine Band, St. Eugene Hospital Advisory Board, Dillon County Farm Bureau (two terms) and Dillon Rotary Club. He had a passion for airplanes and flying and served on the Dillon County Airport Commission. Other community services include serving as past Chairman of the School Board for Dillon District 1, past Master Blue Lodge 142 AFM, past Chairman Federal Savings & Loan Association of Dillon (Security), past Chairman of the Dillon County Industrial Development Board (15 years), and past Chairman for the Dillon County Democratic Party for three terms. He was a former Member of the Royal Order of Jesters Charleston Court, Co-Chairman of United Fund Dillon County for 2 Terms, and past District Director of Boy Scouts for Dillon County. Mr. Rogers also served on The Board of Directors with Wachovia Bank of Dillon, was Chairman of the Advisory Committee of Dillon County Palmetto Leadership Group, and was the 1989 South Carolina Ambassador for Economic Development. He served on the Dillon-Marlboro County Mental Health Board (3 years), was Life Director and President of Farmers Education Association of S.C., and served as State Tobacco Committeeman for 6 terms. Mr. Rogers was honored as the Dillon County Kiwanis Businessman of the Year, Dillon County Young Farmer of the Year in 1960, the 1997 Dillon County Citizen of the Year, and was Awarded “the Order of the Palmetto” by Governor of South Carolina in 1998.
Mr. Rogers loved the inlet of Garden City Beach and Brookgreen Gardens. He was a Charter Member of “Friends of Brookgreen Gardens,” a Life Member-Brookgreen Gardens, Past Treasurer of “Friends of Brookgreen Gardens,” and a Charter Member-Huntington Society.
Serving as Pall Bearers will be JC Bryant; Osbourne Wallace; Felix McLellan; Steve Jacobs; Tommy Stephens; James H. Price, III; P G Winstead, Jr.; and Phillip Wallace.
Honorary Pall Bearers will be fellow Masons of Blue Lodge 142 AFM.
Funeral services for Billy Gordon Rogers will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, August 6, 2010, at Piney Grove Baptist Church, Lake View, SC, with the Reverend Greg Robertson officiating. Following interment at Piney Grove Cemetery, the family will receive visitors in the Fellowship Hall of the church.
Memorials may be made to The Rogers Fund and sent to Piney Grove Baptist Church, 152 Piney Grove Road, Lake View, SC 29536.
