Mrs. Jimmie Rogers died Wednesday, September 16, 2015 after a brief illness at the age of 102. She was named for her grandmother, Sarah James Miller but was lovingly called Jimmie, Jimbo, Jig-o and Dimmie. She was the widow of Trayce D. Rogers of Lake View, SC.
Born April 15, 1913, she was the daughter of Archie Boyd and Carrie Edwards Rogers of Fork, SC.
She attended schools in Lake View and Dillon. After graduation she entered Winthrop College where she played on the Field Hockey and swim teams. She was a summer camp counselor, teaching swimming and serving as a lifeguard.
The depression brought hard times and she left school after her sophomore year and worked in Dillon while living with her grandfather Benjamin Franklin Edwards. She saw many sad situations while working as an assistant social worker. However there were many happy times because she loved to dance. She had many fond memories of dancing to the music of some of the greatest dance bands in the country that stopped in Dillon, as the city was a stopover in their New York to Miami route. She got a thrill telling of the wonderful dace music of Guy Lombardo, Tommy Dorsey, Gab Galloway, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Jan Garber and many others.
In 1937, she married Trayce Rogers of Lake View and they had three children, Kay, Ferrell and Tip. When the two older ones were in college, she commuted to USC every Saturday to pursue a degree in element education. She completed her degree by commuting to Coker College every day her senior year. She taught for 20 years and was named Star Teacher and was invited to join Delta Kappa Gamma. Some of her teaching years, she served as assistant principal. An adult reading program was established for two nights a week. She did not apply for the job but many people in this rural community went to the administration and made a plea “Mrs. Jimmie” to teach them. That plea was granted and she happily fulfilled that rewarding position.
A devout Christian, she taught Sunday School for seventy years in Fork, Dillon, and Lake View and substituted after that time. She organized the Olive Tree Circle, which was the first night circle when many women went to the workplace. She was president of the WMU and served in many other capacities. She organized the first Christmon workshop, which led many talented women in the church to craft beautiful symbols depicting the life of Christ for the tree to be used during Advent and Christmas.
Jimmie helped organize Christmas on the Boulevard, raising money to but the first Christmas lights and worked with the power company to obtain special lighting. She helped with the planting of trees and flowers on the boulevard and could often be seen working with plants, dividing bulbs and whatever needed to be done. It was a fun and rewarding task for her. She loved gardening and loved sharing from her own garden and was ecstatic when friends brought her flowers to decorate her home.
Always interested in civic affairs she served in many capacities. She was vice president and president of the Dillon County Historical Society where she helped organize other areas of service included Dillon County Library Board, Guardian Ad Liteon, Regent and Chaplain of the Rebecca Pickens Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a volunteer at St. Eugene Hospital, Friday Afternoon Book Club as president and also committee chair to improve water quality, Lake View Women’s Club and Eastern District Director of the South Carolina Federation of Women’s Clubs. Most of all, she liked helping people with whatever their needs happened to be.
When she celebrated her 100th birthday, the High School Sports Board on Main Street read “Happy 100th Birthday to “Miss” Jimmie Roger. The town mayor, Temp Smith, presented her a proclamation recognizing her contributions to the town and also her beautification efforts. Her church had a big celebration as well. She was much loved and admired.
Jimmie was predeceased by her husband, Trayce, a son, Ferrell Rogers and son-in-law, John R. (Johnnie) Jordan.
She is survived by her daughter, Kay R. Jordan of Columbia and a son, James T. (Tip) Rogers, also 5 grandchildren, Cecily Cobb of Daniel Island, John Jordan Jr. (Lynsey) of Columbia, Weatherly Brice (Miller), Ashley Rogers, and Brantley Rogers of James Island, seven great grandchildren, Chloe, Lily Kate, and Hudson Cobb, Dalton and Barnes Jordan, and Mills and Grey Brice. Reuben Rogers, a brother lives in Lake View. She had many nieces and nephews and is especially grateful for the love of these nieces who were forever attentive-Carrie Sue Walshock, Honey Edge, and Lyn Rogers.
Visitation will be Thursday, September 17, 2015 from 5-7 pm at Cooke Funeral Home. The service will be Friday at 1:30 at First Baptist Church of Lake View.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Lake View, PO Box 397, Lake View SC 29563 or any charity of your choice.
