Bruce B. Rogers

On the evening of March 5, 2014, Bruce Bethea Rogers was called home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He passed away in his home surrounded by his wife and children. The funeral will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 8, 2014, at First Presbyterian Church Hattiesburg, Ms. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. Saturday. Interment will follow the service at Hickory Grove Cemetery in Laurel. Dr. Sean Michael Lucas will be officiating. Bruce Rogers was born in Laurel, MS on May 22, 1954, to Cade Bethea Rogers and Christine Abercrombie Rogers. Bruce married Mary Ann Sandifer Rogers on January 11, 1973. They were happily married for forty-one years. The couple had five children and eleven grandchildren. The children remember their father as a man who taught them to laugh, to love, to live, and to leave a legacy. He did all these better than anyone they have ever known. Bruce graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in Civil Engineering. Soon after graduating, Bruce worked in Africa helping to build the world’s largest sugar cane factory for the people of Sudan. Throughout his life, Bruce continued to build. He built bridges, buildings, homes, and businesses. He started Petal Auto Parts, a thriving Mississippi business, and he started Christ Church in Petal, MS. However, Bruce’s greatest passion in life was seeing others built up in Christ. At eleven, Bruce was sharing the gospel story with friends. This continued throughout high school and the rest of his life. On his last day in the hospital, Bruce carried a suitcase with bibles, and inside each bible was a letter telling his friends there how to find a new life in Christ. Bruce showed all those around him that only on the foundation of Christ can a fulfilling life truly be built. HIs life was full. One of Bruce’s favorite quotes was “Only one life to live, will soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.” Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, Cade Bethea Rogers and Christine Abercrombie Rogers. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Sandifer Rogers; daughter, Alicia, her husband, Tommy, their children, Katie Rose and Tripp; son, Brian, his wife, Angelyn, their children, James, Samuel, Grace, John, and Claire Renee; son, Casey, his wife, Ashley, their children, Annalee and Cade; daughter, Emily, her husband, Glen, their children, Mary Love and Lucy; and son, Andrew; brother, Tommy Cade Rogers, his wife, Brenda; and sister, Diane Rogers Parish, her husband, Gerald. Pallbearers will be Kevin Arnold, John Helveston, Trent Hendrix, Henry Hawes, Brad Holifield, John Karnes, Joe Nick Leigh, Marcus Robinson, and Andrew Waites. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Hope for Hattiesburg, c/o First Presbyterian Church, 4901 Hardy Street, Hattiesburg, MS 39402. Memory Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. To view and sign the family guest book, visit www.memorychapellaurel.com.

Bruce B. Rogers

May 22, 1954 - March 5, 2014