Connie T Rodgers

Connie Rodgers Greer SC Connie T. Rodgers went home to be with her Lord on December 24, 2008 at Greenville Memorial Hospital. A native of Lake City, SC she was the daughter of the late Herbert Turner and Marie Flynn Turner Clinkscales. Following the death of her father in an automobile accident when she was an infant, she and her mother moved to live with her Grandfather, Robert Hoyt Flynn in the Friendfield community near Lake City. She told many stories of how her grandfather indulged her and the great affection that they shared. As a child she enjoyed voice, dance, piano, bicycle riding and just playing with the animals on the farm. As this was the depression era, Connie's mother sold butter and eggs from the farm to pay for Connie's piano and dance lessons. She attended elementary school in Friendfield and High School in Lake City. In High School, she ran for the track team. Shortly prior to his death, she had the privilege of leading her beloved Grandfather to the Lord. She attended Coker College majoring in education with a minor in music. She became an accomplished piano player at this time and competed in several pageants. She was happily dating a young man named Bill. Unfortunately, Bill was to pass away in an accident. At this point, she reconsidered her direction in life and decided to make a move. Prior to completing college, she moved to San Diego California at the age of 18 to assist in the effort of World War II. During this time she worked in the Convair Aircraft plant in the Quality Assurance Department on the B-24 Liberator assembly line. She returned east to briefly live in Jacksonville Florida. She taught elementary school while in Florida. Following this time, she returned to South Carolina where she encountered man who would she would spend the majority of her life with. She had attended Lake City High School with John Rodgers but a chance encounter at the county fair would once again change the course of her life. She Married John Hasford Rodgers in 1949 and began a life centered around her family. She encouraged her husband to complete his education which began in the army. John would go on to graduate from Clemson University with a degree in Agricultural Education. Around this time, the family grew to a total of 5 with the addition of three children. Connie Marie Rodgers was the first to arrive, followed by two boys John Hasford Rodgers Jr. and Robert Livingston Rodgers. Robert was named in honor of her greatly admired uncle, Robert Livingston Flynn, who was a prominent opthalmologic surgeon when Connie was a child. During this time she worked as a fifth grade teacher. After living for a period of time in Pleasant Hill South Carolina, she encouraged her husband to peruse further education. To this end, the family moved to Columbus Ohio. Following the completion of John Sr. PhD., in which Connie greatly assisted, the family moved to Clemson SC. where her husband was a member of the Clemson University Faculty. After some time, the family moved to Blacksburg, VA so that John Sr. could accept a position as Department Head at the Virginia Polytechnical Institute. In 1966, with the first three of her children nearly grown, she was blessed with a “virus” that turned out to be another son, Donald William Rodgers. The family returned to Clemson in 1968 where they would remain for many years to come. Upon moving to Clemson, she became a full time homemaker and mom to her new son. Also around the time of returning to Clemson, she was blessed with two grandchildren, the current Michael Storm and Michelle Dumas, children of Connie Marie. Some time later, She was blessed with two more grandchildren, Daniel Joseph Rodgers and Frank Clifford Rodgers, the children of John Jr. Due to the nurturing love of his mother, Donald would go on to graduate in Electrical Engineering from Clemson University at the age of 18. Donald purchased an aircraft in 1989 and Connie and her husband were frequent flying companions with Donald. She loved to fly in any airplane, it must have had something to do with the airplane factory, but most loved to fly with her son. The three of them flew all over the country, often visiting her children and grandchildren. Unfortunately, her husband John passed away in 1992. Rather then being devastated by this, she once again reinvented herself. She moved from Clemson to Greer South Carolina where she remain for the balance of her life. For a period of time, she tried wintering in Florida, but after few years, she decided that she missed her family in South Carolina too much to continue this. She began playing the Piano passionately again. She also modeled clothes for fashion shows for several local concerns. During this time she became more active than ever in her church activities participating prayer groups and bible studies in addition to attending services every time that the doors opened. It was also during this period of time that she was blessed with 4 great grandchildren. Christine and Matthew Dumas, the children of Michelle, were the first to arrive. They were followed by Grace and Josiah Storm, the children of Michael. She enjoyed time with the great grandchildren. She also continued to travel frequently with Donald in his airplane and by other means. They enjoyed many trips together to locations as varied as the largest airshow in North America, the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, South Florida, and the largest fireworks show in the United States at Thunder over Louisville. One of her traveling high points was touring the Corvette Manufacturing Plant in Bowling Green Kentucky. The Year 2000 was a banner year for Connie. She decided to purchase a bright red metallic STS Cadillac, yes she had to have the high zoot car. She also was selected as Mrs. Greenville Sr. in a pageant. She went on to represent Greenville in the State Pageant. She continued to travel frequently and visited friends and her son in Clemson so much that she put 45,000 miles on this car in only two years. Up until her 80th Birthday, she lived a life on the go bringing joy to many people merely by walking in the room. Her friends describe her smile as lighting up the room. It seemed that the very best years of her life were ahead of her. An 80th Birthday party that her friends gave for her filled the dining room at a local restaurant. Each person in attendance presented her with a red rose. The over 60 roses demonstrated the great affection that her many friends had for her. Donald was in attendance and gave a touching tribute to the “Best mother that any one could ever have” In keeping with her indomitable spirit, she decided that she needed a “Fun” car. Donald, came by with a Convertible SL500 AMG Sport Mercedes Benz that he was test driving. When asked if she wanted a ride, the answer was of course. A couple of weeks later, she announced that she was going to buy this car. This time she went for the really high zoot car. This new toy became her pride and joy and it seems that she was never happier. She visited her son in Clemson in the new car 2 to 3 times per week and managed to put 9,000 miles on the car in only 5 months. She also joined her final church, the Mauldin Church of God during this time. In doing this she was back under the ministry of the Rev. Bobby Johnson who she greatly admired from Praise Cathedral. She was known to many as the hat lady for the many beautiful hats that she often wore. With out any doubt, this was the very happiest period of her life. In a cruel turn of events, she was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in June of 2007. Her surgery did not go very well resulting in a two month hospital stay. The prevailing professional opinion was that she would never walk again and was a canidate for Hospice at this point. Showing her normal spirit and with the help of Donald, who moved to Greer to care for her, she recovered quickly and was walking again by November. By February, she had regained her normal life. This was truly a testament to her determination and character. Unfortunately, she had a cancer recurance in March. Rather than give in, she continued to fight and lead as much as of her life as possible. The last three days before she entered the Hospital for the final time, she went to see lights at Hollywild on Friday, Ride to see Christmas Lights on Saturday and to Church on Sunday Night. She passed away watching a Christmas Eve Service on Television while holding the hand of her son Donald. Church and Family at her final moments – nothing could have been more appropriate. She will be greatly missed by her beloved family and many friends. Surviving are her three sons, Donald William Rodgers, John H. Rodgers Jr. , both of Clemson, Bob Rodgers of Mountain Home Arkansas; a daughter Connie M. Rodgers of Murrells Inlet along with her four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Funeral Services to celebrate her life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday at the Mauldin Church of God conducted by Rev. Bobby Johnson. Burial will follow in Memory Gardens in Clemson. Visitation will be held 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Saturday at the Wood Mortuary in Greer. Online condolences may be made at www.thewoodmortuary.com

Connie T Rodgers

November 6, 1926 - December 24, 2008