Charles Stanley Rodgers

Charles attended Little Rock public schools and in 1962, he graduated from Philander Smith College (PSC). Subsequently, he moved to Los Angeles, California where he continued his education by attending Cal State University at Los Angeles, West Los Angeles Community College, and Los Angeles City College. In 1963 Charles joined the U.S. Army Reserve and in March 1969, he was honorably discharged.

In 1973 he was employed with the City of Los Angeles in several departments and capacities: Fire and Police Pensions, Department of Traffic, and Department of Public Works Bureau of Engineering – Architectural Division. In 1999, he retired from the City of Los Angeles Public Works Bureau as a Management Analyst II and returned to his hometown of Little Rock.

After returning to Little Rock, he went to work at his alma mater, Philander Smith College (PSC), where he held the positions of Library Research Associate and later Library Manager for the Donald W. Reynolds Library Archives and Technology Center. The community-at-large and the PSC students often referred to Charles as “that nice Mr. Rodgers” who was always helpful. In 2006, Charles’ love of genealogy led him to work for the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies as Genealogy Collections Specialist. He later became the Gallery Assistant for CALS Galleries and Bookstore until 2015.

From early on Charles had a passion for singing starting in high school, college and throughout his life. He was a soloist with the Messiah Congregational Church in Westchester, California, the St. Luke United Methodist Church, in Highland Park, California and he also was a soloist with the Northeast Symphony and West Coast Opera Workshop. While growing up in Little Rock, he took piano lessons from a high school friend’s mother and while living in Los Angeles, he studied private voice lessons with Molio Sheron and Sara McFerrin. Charles had a passion for travel and had the pleasure of visiting Spain, Canada, Hawaii and his sister, brother-in-law and niece while they lived in California, Tennessee and Arizona. Many times, he joined them on vacation to various places such as New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, and California. Charles leaves to cherish his memory a loving sister, Ruth Laster and a loving brother, Larry Rodgers, several nieces and nephews and a host of lifelong friends.

He was a life member of the Little Rock Chapter of the National Alumni Association at Philander Smith College. If you wish to honor his memory, the family has requested donations be made to the Philander Smith College scholarship fund. Arrangements entrusted to Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth Funeral Home, Little Rock, Arkansas.