Barbara Irene Burton Rogers was born on October 5, 1931 in Harnett County, North Carolina to William and Madge Burton (both deceased). She accepted Christ as her lord and savior and was baptized as a teenager at First Baptist Church of Fuquay Varina, North Carolina.
Irene graduated from Fuquay-Consolidated High School in 1949. She went on to attend Bennett College and graduated from North Carolina A&T State University in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health and Physical Education.
Irene married the love of her life, Price Rogers Jr., May 5, 1954, in Greensboro, North Carolina. Price was always devoted to her and affectionately called her "Rene". Irene worked various teaching positions as she traveled the world supporting her husband's career in the U.S. Air Force. She lived in Bury Saint Edmond, England; Savannah, Georgia; Seville, Spain; Cheyenne, Wyoming; Riverside, California; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Chesapeake, Virginia.
She loved and was proud of her family. She was a fiercely competitive Scrabble player, to our knowledge had only been beaten once and doubted the validity of the results. She was witty, loved to read, garden and belly laughed uncontrollably at funny situations.
Irene loved nature and was in awe of God's green earth, she often called it “a big old dusty ball”. One of her favorite places to visit was the Grand Canyon, she visited on her 80th birthday and planned to return on her 88th birthday - now she may visit anytime.
Irene was proceeded in death by her husband Price; siblings Charles, Ira Lee, William Jr., Lasalle, Cora, and Dorothy Dean.
She is survived by four children; Debbie Womack (Earl) of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, June Livingston (Harvey II) Sacramento, California, Keith Rogers (Ann) of Edenton, North Carolina, and Karen Dortch (Robert of Richmond, Virginia) of Newport News, VA; five sisters, Sue Burton of Mount Rainier, MD, Patricia Redmond (James) of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Wilma Hunter (James) of Fuquay Varina, North Carolina, Roberta Burton of Fuquay Varina, North Carolina and Gloria Burton of Forestville, Maryland; eight grandchildren, Harvey III, Earl, Taylor, Shelby, Randall, Malcolm, Solomon, and Pam; great grandchildren, Noah and Stoney.
