Funeral services for Billie Rogers will be held at 2:00 PM, Sunday, March 6, 2022 in the chapel of Kilpatrick Funeral Home West Monroe with Dr. Woods Watson, Rev. Michael Wood and Sister Alia Edwards officiating. Interment will follow at Hasley Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 12:00-2:00 PM at Kilpatrick Funeral Home West Monroe.
Billie loved the Lord God with all her heart and she loved those who worked for Him. She loved serving the “Church workers” paid or volunteer and showed her appreciation for them, many times, through cooking. She would make sure the staff birthday celebration wasn’t just a cake… it would be more of a meal for everyone that day. Sunday morning she would make sure the volunteers in preschool had snacks to help them make it through. She loved music, especially Gospel/Sacred Music, and taught and performed for 76 years. Retiring at the age of 91! She began teaching while in high school and then began working for Stamps-Baxter Music Company as accompanist for Stamps Baxter Melody Boys Quartet, and teaching piano and performing at “Singing Schools” throughout the S.E. U.S. She traveled and performed with so many gospel greats, such as Jake Hess, Joe Roper, The Speer Family, Blackwood Brothers, etc. Several churches would request her to come teach their musicians how to play this new Southern Gospel “Convention” style playing. (It was at one of these singing schools she met her future husband Howard.) Through the years, many students went on to get advanced degrees in music, become teachers of music, entertainers, church staff, successful lawyers, doctors, various occupations. Some students were able to serve as church organists while in college, thanks to her teaching them how to play. She also made her own arrangements of songs. In fact, just a few years ago, she received a call from a former student wanting a copy of an arrangement of hers. She sat at the cabinet and wrote it out right then. She loved all her students and their families. She loved flowers and working in her yard. When her husband worked in the yard, he always looked for a red rose to bring in to her. She also loved cats. She took care of many whether it was basic care or nursing them back from “The Brink”. She believed a person should be kind and grateful every day. Billie was preceded in death by her husband Howard E. Rogers; parents; Harrison and Claudie Williams Reynolds; siblings Cleo Lybarger (Dan) and Jackie Mayfield (Dean.)
Special thanks to Heart of Hospice staff who took exceptional and compassionate care of her. She always looked forward to seeing Jasmine and Alia. There were so many who took such good care of her, Kim, Kelsie, Maggie, the volunteers. Also members and staff of First Baptist Church, piano moms dads, friends, neighbors, former students, the out-pouring of love has been phenomenal and so many prayers, so much comfort.
Donations may be sent to First Baptist Church, West Monroe, LA; Revival Fires Ministries International West Monroe, LA; River Cities Humane Society for Cats, Monroe, LA; or the charity of your choice.
Serving as pallbearers will be Ralph Calhoun, Rodney Dickerson, Paris Rainey, Rob Harkness, Charley Lee, Jr., Bart Wheat and Colin Wheat.
Billie is survived by her daughter Mary Irene Rogers; numerous nieces and nephews.
“God gave us music so we might pray without words.”