Dr. William E. Rogers

3 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

Dr. William E. Rogers went peacefully to his heavenly home at the age of 93 on May 23, 2023 at the Mulberry Health Center near his eldest son, Roger, in West Lafayette, Indiana. Brother Bill graduated from Louisiana College in 1951, received a masters degree from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and then earned a doctorate at the age of 76 at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. In 2012, he was selected as “Distinguished Alumni” from Louisiana College. Dr. Rogers served as a pastor for 54 years, ministering in Iota, LA at First Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Napoleonville, LA, Emmanuel Baptist Church in Potsdam, NY, and Grace Baptist Church in New Orleans, LA. He served for thirty years at Grace Baptist Church in the Bywater area and conducted a prison ministry as a probation and parole in Orleans and St. Bernard parishes for twenty years. After Hurricane Katrina, at the age of 75, Brother Bill helped to organize an international network of volunteers to begin rebuilding the ravaged Bywater community. He was awarded the People’s Choice Award in 2006 for his work. Upon retirement, Brother Rogers relocated to his hometown of Denham Springs where he served as a minister of outreach for Riverside Baptist Church. Bill was preceded in death by his loving wife of 51 years, Joan Carolyn Scharfenstein Rogers, his father, Gustave B. Rogers, his mother Clara Rogers, and his sister Juanita Tate (the late Donald Tate). He is survived by his sister, Carolyn Hatcher (the late Zach Hatcher), his children Roger (Maria), Robert, Rebecca (Roc), Richard (Kathy), and Rosemary (Daniel). He was also the proud grandfather of 19 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. Dr. William Eugene Rogers served the Lord faithfully his entire life, from the rural areas of Louisiana to upstate New York and then the inner city of New Orleans. Wherever he felt God’s call, he brought the love of Christ and the hope of redemption.

Visitation will be held at Seale Funeral Home, Denham Springs, Saturday, May 27, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Funeral service will be held at Riverside Baptist Church, Watson, Sunday, May 28, at 2 p.m.