William (Bill) Russell Rodgers

William (Bill) Russell Rodgers, Sr., 89, of Valdosta, Georgia passed away on Saturday, July 4, 2009 following a lengthy illness. He was born in Lowndes County, Georgia on March 13, 1920 and was a lifelong resident of Lowndes County. He was an avid horse lover and before moving to the Dasher Community in the early 1980's, Mr. Rodgers owned a farm, horse stables and riding arena on the land where the Valdosta Mall is currently located. It was there that he operated a road-side produce stand each summer for many years where he sold home-grown produce and introduced Silver Queen sweet corn to this area.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Oren Hightower Rodgers and Alice Touchton Rodgers, two brothers, O.H. Rodgers, Jr. and Jimmy Rodgers all of Valdosta, one son and daughter in law, Walter Ruark Rodgers and Mildred Barthlow Rodgers of Ocala, Fla., one grandson, Ted Wayne Rodgers, Jr. of Salisbury, NC., and his former wife and the mother of his seven children, Florence Bonnell Rodgers.

Survivors include his six children and their spouses, Ted Wayne Rodgers and Cynthia Shirley Rodgers of Galax, VA., Andrew (Andy) Paul Rodgers and Ann Moose Rodgers of Hahira, Georgia; Betty Jean Rodgers Smith and Earl Daniel Smith, Jr. of Nahunta, GA., Sandra Rodgers Daugherty and Steve Daugherty of Valdosta, William Russell (Rusty) Rodgers Jr. and Donna James Rodgers, Robert Alan Rodgers and Becky Roark Rodgers all of Valdosta, nine grandchildren Wendy Rodgers Edwards of Independence, VA; Andrew Paul Rodgers, Jr. and his wife, Jan Honeycutt Rodgers of Montgomery, Ala; Joseph Martin (Marty) Rodgers of Valdosta; Jeannie Smith Altman and her husband, Tracy Altman of Nahunta, GA; Ashley EarlDaniel Smith of Nahunta/Augusta, GA; William (Bill) Daugherty and his wife, Ruth Burkhalter Daugherty, Shelley Rodgers Holloway and her husband, Dr. Jason Holloway; Jessica Lynn Rodgers, Morgan Nicole Rodgers all of Valdosta; twelve great grandchildren, one sister and brother in law, Lillian and Jim Hall of Bossier City, LA; sister in law, Beatrice Rodgers of Valdosta; three nephews, Jimmy Coleman and his wife, Carole Ann of Marshall, TX., Rod Coleman and his wife, Cheryl of Gilbert, AZ. and Larry Rodgers and his wife, Dawn of Valdosta, one niece, Teresa Minchew and her husband, Gary of Valdosta and two other nieces.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 8, 2009 in the chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home, 2215 N. Patterson St., Valdosta, GA 31602 (phone 229-242-5544) with his grandson, Paul Rodgers, officiating. A private burial for the family will follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery in Valdosta, Georgia. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at the funeral home from 6 until 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Georgia Sheriffs Boys Ranch, 5671 Highway 122 E, Hahira, GA 31632 or Latin American Missions of Forrest Park Church of Christ, P. O. Box 2330, Valdosta, GA 31604-2330. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanefuneralservices.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home.


Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602