Virginia Elizabeth Fitz-Gerald Rogers, affectionately known as “Tede,” 82, of South Pittsburg, Tennessee, died on Monday, December 24, 2012 at Alexian Village in Signal Mountain.
She was born on June 6, 1930, the sixth of the eight children of James Thomas Fitz-Gerald and his wife, Alice Elizabeth Jones, and was the wife of the late James Marvin Rogers, to whom she was married for 45 years. A lifelong resident of South Pittsburg, She was baptized, confirmed and married at Christ Church, Episcopal, and was a 1948 graduate of South Pittsburg High School. Following her marriage, she joined Holly Avenue United Methodist Church, and served in many positions throughout her years of membership.
Tede worked alongside Marvin at the family’s business, Rogers Funeral Home, when needed, and enjoyed travelling with him to state and national funeral directors meetings. She volunteered her time with CONTACT of Chattanooga the South Pittsburg Hospital “Pink Ladies,” and the Judge David Campbell Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She enjoyed her years of being a mother and then grandmother.
Following Marvin’s death in 1993, she became part of a group that was affectionately dubbed the “Miss Daisies" who enjoyed eating out and travelling together. She is remembered for her cheerful disposition and recalled most often as “a wonderful Lady.”
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by brothers, James Thomas, Jr., Edward Arthur, Robert Evan, Michael, and Jere Scott Fitz-Gerald, and sister, Kathleen Fitz-Gerald Gullette.
She is survived by her five children, Susan Thomas and husband, Bob, of Monteagle, Tn., Elizabeth Kelly and husband, Zach, of Jasper, Virginia “Gina” Klima and husband, Gunter, of Kimball, James M. “Jim” Rogers, Jr. and wife, Teresa, of South Pittsburg, and Robert B. “Bob” Rogers and wife, Angie, of Chattanooga; nine grandchildren, Dayna Phipps Eddy and husband, Tom, of Lookout Mountain, Patrick Kelly and wife, Desiree, of Nashville, Meegan Rogers Burton and husband, Gil, of Kimball, Britt Kelly and wife, Ryan, of Charleston, S.C., Ben Rogers and wife, Allison, of Blountville, Tn., Krissi Klima Mansholt and husband, Mike, of Okinawa, Japan, Adam Rogers of Alpharetta, Ga., Hannah Rogers and Evan Rogers, both of Chattanooga; six great-grandchildren, Andrea and Aiden Kelly, Robert “Bo” and Katie Burton, Brayden Mansholt and Edwin Kelly, sister, Fay F. Zeigler of Lookout Mountain; brother-in-law, Troy Gullette of Chattanooga; sisters-in-law, Bobbie Henry of Chattanooga and Charlsie Fitz-Gerald of South Pittsburg; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 28, at Holly Avenue United Methodist Church in South Pittsburg. Interment will follow at Cumberland View Cemetery in Kimball.
The family will receive friends for visitation on Thursday, Dec. 27, from 4-9 p.m. at Rogers Funeral Home in South Pittsburg.
Memorial contributions may be made in Tede’s memory to Contact of Southeast Tennessee, 6221 Vance Road, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421, or Holly Avenue United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 189, South Pittsburg, Tn. 37380.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.rogersfuneralhome.com.