In Memory Of
Dora E. Rodgers
1925
2013
Dora E. Rodgers
June 8, 1925 — May 28, 2013
DR. DORA ECHOLS RODGERS
Her Life
Dora Mae Echols Rodgers was born on June 8, 1925 in Detroit, Michigan, to Magnolia and Wellington Echols. She was the eldest of eight children, five boys and three girls. There was never a dull moment in the Echols household. It was a place of warmth, laughter, love and happiness.
Dora's parents emphasized the importance of education and encouraged all the children to do their very best. An excellent student, Dora loved reading, poetry, and writing, and was always interested in languages. In 1942 she graduated from Northern High School with honors, and was the treasurer of her senior class. She received scholarships that financed her education through Wayne State University in Detroit, where she majored in French. Dora was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's prestigious academic honor society at American Universities and Colleges. Dora received her Master's degree in education from Wayne State in 1946 and became a teacher in the Detroit Public School System. She was a very dedicated and talented teacher who was loved by her many students, and respected by her colleagues.
In 1947 while on an outing with her French club at Belle Isle, a park in Detroit, Dora met John Edward Rodgers who was at the park for a church picnic. Since John would be attending Oakwood College (now Oakwood University) that fall, they kept in touch by US mail. Dora was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church around 1949 while John was away at Oakwood. On June 14, 1953, John and Dora were married. Out of their union came two children: Sharlita Michelle in 1957 and Edward Jai in 1962.
Dora and John's life's journey took them to Southern California in 1960 where she taught in the San Bernardino School District. In 1967 they moved to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, where she taught at the Seventh Day Adventist College, now Antillean Adventist University. Dora became chairman of the English department and headed up the committee for the college's independent study for the college accreditation.
In 1975 Dora and John, took a sabbatical and with the children moved to Berrien Springs, Michigan. There they enrolled at Andrews University and completed their Doctorates in Education and counseling in 1978. Dora and John returned to Puerto Rico but came back to Andrews in 1980 to march in the same graduation with their daughter, Sharlita, who would be receiving her undergraduate degree. Dora was the first women to receive the Doctoral Degree in Education from Andrews University.
In 1989, Dora and John received a mission call to go to Costa Rica to teach at the Universidad Adventista de Centroamerica (UNADECA). Upon completion of their service in Costa Rica, they received Merit of Honor for distinguished service at that institution. In 1991 they returned to the United States and settled in Dayton, Ohio. Dora worked from 1997 to 2007 with the Kettering Medical Center's counseling department and with its Ministry Care Line.
Dora was a loving wife, wonderful mother, fabulous grandmother, and a devoted daughter and sister. Many individuals were drawn to her loving, gracious, sweet and understanding spirit. She was a gifted and creative teacher, spoke Spanish and French fluently, and was eloquent in recitation.
She inspired her children, grandchildren and so many students to excellence.
A woman of faith and much trust in God, Dora was always active in the church, where ever she lived, leading out in Youth Ministry, working as a deaconess, and teaching in the Primary Sabbath School.
Whatever the occasion, Dora always had a word of encouragement, a thought, a saying or scripture to share. Whenever we talked on the phone, her last words were usually, "Hasta luego" (See you later), never goodbye. Her counsel to us now would probably be to remember what Christ says "Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life" (Rev. 2:10 NKJV).
On Tuesday, May 28, 2013, Dora fell asleep in Jesus, awaiting the return of her Lord and Savior. She was preceded in death by her parents, Wellington and Magnolia Echols, and two siblings, Gerald Echols and Beatrice Benson. Dora leaves to celebrate her life and cherish her beautiful memory, her devoted husband of 60 years, John Rodgers, children Dr. Sharlita M. Simpkins (David), and Edward J. Rodgers; grandchildren: David-Jonal Simpkins; Mayzia Rodgers Negron, Tathiana Rodgers Negron, and Noemi Dorimar Rodgers Negron, siblings Wellington Echols (Ann), Dr. James Echols (Lettie), John Echols, Jeanette Nelson (George), and Donald Echols (Mary), many nieces and nephews, and a host of friends, former students and colleagues.
On behalf of our family with much love,
Dr. Sharlita M. Rodgers-Simpkins, daughter
And
Jeanette Nelson, sister
Her Life
Dora Mae Echols Rodgers was born on June 8, 1925 in Detroit, Michigan, to Magnolia and Wellington Echols. She was the eldest of eight children, five boys and three girls. There was never a dull moment in the Echols household. It was a place of warmth, laughter, love and happiness.
Dora's parents emphasized the importance of education and encouraged all the children to do their very best. An excellent student, Dora loved reading, poetry, and writing, and was always interested in languages. In 1942 she graduated from Northern High School with honors, and was the treasurer of her senior class. She received scholarships that financed her education through Wayne State University in Detroit, where she majored in French. Dora was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's prestigious academic honor society at American Universities and Colleges. Dora received her Master's degree in education from Wayne State in 1946 and became a teacher in the Detroit Public School System. She was a very dedicated and talented teacher who was loved by her many students, and respected by her colleagues.
In 1947 while on an outing with her French club at Belle Isle, a park in Detroit, Dora met John Edward Rodgers who was at the park for a church picnic. Since John would be attending Oakwood College (now Oakwood University) that fall, they kept in touch by US mail. Dora was baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church around 1949 while John was away at Oakwood. On June 14, 1953, John and Dora were married. Out of their union came two children: Sharlita Michelle in 1957 and Edward Jai in 1962.
Dora and John's life's journey took them to Southern California in 1960 where she taught in the San Bernardino School District. In 1967 they moved to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, where she taught at the Seventh Day Adventist College, now Antillean Adventist University. Dora became chairman of the English department and headed up the committee for the college's independent study for the college accreditation.
In 1975 Dora and John, took a sabbatical and with the children moved to Berrien Springs, Michigan. There they enrolled at Andrews University and completed their Doctorates in Education and counseling in 1978. Dora and John returned to Puerto Rico but came back to Andrews in 1980 to march in the same graduation with their daughter, Sharlita, who would be receiving her undergraduate degree. Dora was the first women to receive the Doctoral Degree in Education from Andrews University.
In 1989, Dora and John received a mission call to go to Costa Rica to teach at the Universidad Adventista de Centroamerica (UNADECA). Upon completion of their service in Costa Rica, they received Merit of Honor for distinguished service at that institution. In 1991 they returned to the United States and settled in Dayton, Ohio. Dora worked from 1997 to 2007 with the Kettering Medical Center's counseling department and with its Ministry Care Line.
Dora was a loving wife, wonderful mother, fabulous grandmother, and a devoted daughter and sister. Many individuals were drawn to her loving, gracious, sweet and understanding spirit. She was a gifted and creative teacher, spoke Spanish and French fluently, and was eloquent in recitation.
She inspired her children, grandchildren and so many students to excellence.
A woman of faith and much trust in God, Dora was always active in the church, where ever she lived, leading out in Youth Ministry, working as a deaconess, and teaching in the Primary Sabbath School.
Whatever the occasion, Dora always had a word of encouragement, a thought, a saying or scripture to share. Whenever we talked on the phone, her last words were usually, "Hasta luego" (See you later), never goodbye. Her counsel to us now would probably be to remember what Christ says "Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life" (Rev. 2:10 NKJV).
On Tuesday, May 28, 2013, Dora fell asleep in Jesus, awaiting the return of her Lord and Savior. She was preceded in death by her parents, Wellington and Magnolia Echols, and two siblings, Gerald Echols and Beatrice Benson. Dora leaves to celebrate her life and cherish her beautiful memory, her devoted husband of 60 years, John Rodgers, children Dr. Sharlita M. Simpkins (David), and Edward J. Rodgers; grandchildren: David-Jonal Simpkins; Mayzia Rodgers Negron, Tathiana Rodgers Negron, and Noemi Dorimar Rodgers Negron, siblings Wellington Echols (Ann), Dr. James Echols (Lettie), John Echols, Jeanette Nelson (George), and Donald Echols (Mary), many nieces and nephews, and a host of friends, former students and colleagues.
On behalf of our family with much love,
Dr. Sharlita M. Rodgers-Simpkins, daughter
And
Jeanette Nelson, sister
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Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
1:00 - 2:00 pm (Eastern time)
Adventist Church
Service
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Starts at 2:00 pm (Eastern time)
Adventist Church
Guestbook
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