Shirley C. Rogers, 86, of Appalachia, Virginia, lost her fight with Alzheimer’s Disease Thursday morning, September 25, 2020, while a resident of Heritage Hall. She then won her gift of eternal life in the arms of her Savior and the presence of her family who went before her. Oh, what a blessed reunion that was!
Shirley’s career involved several clerical jobs including the Wise Clinic, Westmoreland Coal Company, Auto World, and several places through MEOC’s Foster Grandparents Program including Appalachia Elementary School and the Southwest Virginia Museum.
Shirley was a very hard-working person whose goal was to help and serve others, never knowing how to answer anyone with the word, no. She was so proud of her large family, and she loved them all dearly.
Shirley was always energetically involved in church, civic, and political activities and listing them all would almost endless. So here are some of her proudest endeavors. Shirley was a lifetime member of the Appalachia United Methodist Church where she sang in the church choir for many years, and she was a member of United Methodist Women. She loved her town and participated in various civic activities where she was a former representative on the Appalachia Town Council, and a member of Appalachia Athletic Association, Lions Club, Appalachia Cultural Arts, Woman’s Club, Eastern Star, Cheer Club, and she helped coordinate the Salvation Army bell ringers in Appalachia. She was once a representative on the State Board of Social Services, and she was a member of MEOC’s PACE program. She was also a lifelong member of the Republican Party where she was once a state delegate to the Republican National Convention, and she proudly attended the inaugurations of two Presidents.
She loved staying busy with her church and civic duties, but she loved her family most. The highlight of her year would be planning the family reunion, and Thursday morning she was so blessed by being able to walk again as she walked into our Lord’s presence and was reunited with her family members who went before her. They include her parents, W. D. Sr. and Mable Cornett; brothers, W. D. Jr. (Betty) Cornett, Karl (Christine) Cornett, Don (Helen) Cornett, Bill Cornett, Larry Cornett, Jerry Cornett, and Jimmy Cornett; her sisters, Fay (Jim) Alcorn and Kay (David) Begley; her former husband, Frank Rogers.
Left to treasure her memory are her daughters Kim (Dale) Mabe of Big Stone Gap, Virginia, and Kathy (Randy) Collier of Las Vegas, Nevada. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Lindsay (Chris) Stacy and Jackson of Big Stone Gap, Josh (Lauren) Mabe and Liam of Wise; Annsley (Wayne) Hill of Knoxville and Christopher (Kaitlyn) and Megan, and Ashley (Mike) Alderman and Collier, Dublin, Virginia. Her brothers, Tim (Charlie) Cornett of Jacksonville, Florida, and Richard (Patti) Cornett of Big Stone Gap. Her sisters in law, Madeline Cornett, Myrtle Beach, SC; Betty Cornett and Brenda Cornett, Big Stone Gap; Janna Cornett, Austin, Texas; several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020 at Gilliam Funeral Home, 618 Wood Ave., W., Big Stone Gap, Va. The funeral service will follow at 3:00 p.m. with Rev. David Gilbert officiating.
Entombment services will follow at the Glencoe Cemetery Mausoleum. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.
Gilliam Funeral Home and Crematory is honored to serve the Rogers family.