Vera Rogers

Vera Rogers

Franklin, NC - Vera Rogers, of Franklin passed away peacefully Friday, April 17th, with her son Jim and his wife Pam by her side. Mom, grandma, great grandma, and farmer to the end, Vera and her late husband Carlos continued the family's farming tradition that began in Macon County in 1849. Through the years as commercial farmers, they grew turnips, cabbage, cucumbers, peppers, burley tobacco, tomatoes, hogs, and beef cattle.

Born August 2, 1917, Vera spent most of her 97 years at Olive Hill in the house she was born. In later years on the farm, her favorite pastime were feeding cattle, and gardening, spending time with her grandsons, and great- grandsons, and riding the fields on her Kawasaki Mule, always with her dog, Trouble, by her side.

A Franklin High School graduate of the class of 1933, she began her education in the one room Olive Hill School, walked to Iotla School in later years and attended a one year business course offered to high school graduates in Macon County that was a precursor to the community college system of today.

She worked for several years at the Moody Farm in the Iotla Valley, during the years when they took in summer guests, assisting with all aspects of their tourist business before farming full time. Her many stories about those years and the summer "boarders" prompted family interest in the hospitality industry that continues to this day.
Her keen memory, able to recite childhood poems until her final months, made her the keeper of family histories and genealogy of not just her own but of many families in the area. Her generous nature made sure that visitors left with some product of the farm, something from the kitchen, or a spray of flowers.

She was preceded in death by her parents Bill and Nobia Barnard, an infant son Charles; brother Ray Barnard, sister Jessie Webb, husband Carlos Rogers, and great grandson Jack Rogers. She is survived by a sister, Violet Smith of Asheville, NC, a son, Jim Rogers and wife Pam of Spartanburg, SC, grandsons Allen Rogers and wife Jessica of Jonesborough, TN and John Rogers of Brussels, Belgium; great- grandsons Adam and Braeden Rogers of TN. along with many nieces, nephews, and friends. She loved her special friends Carolyn and Juli and used her gift of memory to speak with them by phone many times a day.

A funeral service will be held 11: 00 A.M. Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at the Bryant Grant Funeral Home with the Rev. Steve Miller officiating. Burial will follow at the Iotla United Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:00 11:00 a.m. prior to the service.

Pallbearers will be Michael Creek, Adam Burrell, Randy Woodall, Kenny Solomon, and Randy McCullohs. Honorary pallbearer will be Joe Tippett.

Memorials can be made to the Iotla United Methodist Church, c/o Rebecca Chastain, 187 May Apple Lane, Franklin, NC 28734.

Bryant Grant Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences are available by visiting bryantgrantfuneralhome.com or by email.