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Submitted: 8/3/21 • Approved: 8/6/21 • Last Updated: 8/9/21 • R1384833-G0-S3
November 27, 1938 - February 5, 2019
Joseph C. Rogers was born November 27, 1938, to the late Roy and Sarah Rogers, in New Orleans, Louisiana, a city he loved dearly, with his siblings, uncles and many friends, which seemingly was everyone he met. There in his beloved city, he attended and graduated from Clark High School and played basketball, the game where he would get the nickname – Gunn!
In the 1960s, Gunn married the love of his life, Betty Ann Lemons, who came to New Orleans from Hot Springs. For almost 55 years, they had a beautiful life together. He was the father to Austin, Dwayne, Michael, and JoAnne, teaching them the value of hard work and importance of education through personal example and core values which would be as his legacy. Gunn enrolled in Southern University at New Orleans, attending full-time during the day, while working during the night to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Education.
Sometimes in life, people are measured by the types of jobs held or certificates hung on a wall. But Gunn’s life was measured and will be remembered by his “character” and his special abilities to be steadfast, loyal, his easiness to forgive, not holding grudges, and especially, his gift of generous laughter. Even considering the would-be despair of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 - the ruins of his city held so dear to his heart, Gunn was able to relocate and rebuild a life for his family with a certain lightheartedness. He was well known for that – his knack for getting people to laugh and to persevere beyond circumstances. Gunn’s interests included bowling, playing golf, and watching Sunday football, especially cheering on the New Orleans Saints he loved talking about with his sons.
Most important, Gunn gave his life to the Lord, living a faithful Christian life, going to church every Sunday – not missing – serving as a Deacon and Sunday School teacher, which were everything to him. He would be the first one to arrive for worship, unlocking and getting everything ready. Over five (5) decades, he was a devoted member of only three (3) churches, Zion Hill Missionary Baptist, Christian Unity, and Greater Ebenezer Missionary, where he happily served as deacon, affectionately known as “songbird,” until he physically couldn’t attend anymore due to an illness that progressed rather fast. And even then, he never complained openly.
As a family, we will remember Gunn as a great man and family patriarch. He was always eagerly present for gatherings, and happy to be around family and friends.
His survivors include his devoted wife, Betty (who tenderly cared for him to the very end), his children, Austin (Austin, TX), Michael (Hot Springs), Jo Anne (Palm Beach Gardens, FL), his beloved brother Louis Rogers (New Orleans), Brother-in-law Meredith Lemons (Pauline, Hot Springs), sisters-in-law Nadine (Rev. Benjamin Lang, Lithia Springs, GA), Geneva “Peppy” (Tim, Hot Springs), special cousin, Glenda Taylor (New Orleans), and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, golf and bowling buddies.
Preceded in death were Gunn’s parents, sister, Essie Bea, his son, Dwayne, and uncles of whom he loved so much.
Funeral service will be held 11:00 AM, Saturday, February 9, 2019, at Greater St. Paul Baptist Church, 497 Crescent Ave, Hot Springs, AR. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. Burial will take place on Monday, February 11, 2019 at 10:00 AM in Greenwood Cemetery.
Contributed on 8/3/21 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 1384833