Clara Marie Rodgers' Obituary
Each of us has an infinite time on earth, but that time is enough to do the work that God has ordained us to do.
On July 22, 2015, Mother Clara Rodgers, after completing her God ordained work and purpose on this earth, willingly and peacefully accepted her place in God’s celestial number.
Born on January 1, 1928 in Gains Landing, Arkansas, Clara Marie Watson, the third born child to Dave and Floneller Watson, lived with the Watson family led by Patriarch Elder J. Watson, Sr, until they migrated to Omaha, NE.
She was educated in the local public schools of Omaha, NE, where she discovered one of her many passions, basketball. Her love for the sport led her to participate as a travelling semi-professional basketball player which opened up opportunities to meet people and visit places she may have never met or visited.
Her second passion was Cosmetology. She received her license and credentials as a stylist and instructor. She was owner/operator of her own hair and beauty salon which provided services to not only the community in Omaha, but the Saints as well.
During her short career as a semi-pro basketball player, she met Johnnie Pace who was in the US Army and they were soon the proud parents of Clara’s two oldest daughters Lennie and Glorya. Johnnie was killed while in the military which left Clara to take care of her daughters on her own. Two years later she met and married her soul mate, Ollie Rodgers, Sr. This union was blessed by four more children, Ollie, Jr, Jeannette LaFaye, Dorothea Annette and Rodrick Lyle.
Peaches, as she was lovingly called, loved to fish. From coast to coast, California to Florida, if there were fish to be caught she was going to catch ’em, clean ’em, fillet ’em and fry ’em up. Everyone loved her filleted fish. She loved to camp and fry fish on the open grill. Although she didn’t like bugs, she was a true outdoors person. Showing that she was not only a fisher for sport and survival, she was a fisher of men for the Kingdom.
Clara was born and raised in the Church of God in Christ and remained a faithful member of one church or another wherever she lived. She was a long time member of Grace Tabernacle COGIC in Omaha, NE under the tutelage of Bishop Monte J. Bradford. She was appointed a District Missionary under Bishop Richardson. After the passing of Bishop Bradford, Pastor Robert Terrell was elevated to pastor of Grace Tabernacle, and chose “Mother” to served as church mother. When the packing houses closed in Omaha, they temporarily moved to Minneapolis, MN where she attended New Covenant COGIC under Pastor Lock. When Ollie, Sr’s job called for him to move back to Omaha, they moved back to Omaha. Mother Rodgers served in many capacities, in many departments. She was Young Women’s Christian Council president, Purity Class President, Choir Director, Sunday School teacher and before his passing, Bishop Bradford had elected her and her favorite, Aunt Bessie, as directors of the Jurisdictional Young People Willing Workers. As Deacon Rodger’s health began to decline, their children decided that they should move to California for more support from the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Upon her arrival in California she was joined with the Light House Mission COGIC, where she remained a member until her transition on July 22, 2015, serving as church mother.
Mother Rodgers was preceded in death by her parents Dave and Floneller. Her beloved husband Deacon Ollie Rodgers, Sr. Her sisters State Supervisor Mother Louise Secret, Idell Watson and Floneller Bolden, and her brothers Jesse, Cal and Eddie. Her children Ollie, Jr and Dorothea. She was also preceded in reward by grand daughter Kotiesha Rogers.
Celebrating her life are her daughters Lennie (Samuel) McQueen, Oakland, CA, Glorya (Aarthur) Ellis, Orlando, FL, Jeannette Rogers and one son Rodrick (Twanna) Rogers, Oakland, CA. Sixteen grandchildren, Kassondra, Jacolyn, Troi, Gigi, Michael, Shannon, Anthony, Chante, Brenton, Kennethia, Dannelle, Nathaniel, Tieshka, Kahlil, Rodrick, Jr, Cervon. Twenty-six great grandchildren. Six great great grandchildren and great great grand daughter Charli on the way. Her sister Lucille Boults, Ruby Williams, Sandra Smith, and Siny (Randy) Bailey and one brother Larry (Martha) Holmes, all of Omaha, NE. Sister in loves Ella Jeanne rodgers, Bettye Mayhue, and Sylvia Archer and one brother in love Joe Louis Rodgers. With a host of niece, nephews, cousins, church family and friends.
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