Aureba Jo (Turner) Rodgers

She was born in Westminster, Texas on September 27, 1927, to parents Clarence and ‘Maggie’ Turner. She was born and raised on a farm and was educated in country school houses in the Nobility, Texas area until she left the farm for North Texas State Teachers College in Denton (now University of North Texas) in 1945 working her way through school by working in the cafeteria cooking for G.I. Bill veteran students returning from WW II. At school she made many lifetime friends that were dorm roommates and classmates.

After college, she made her way to Dallas where she found work as a bookkeeper at a manufacturing plant. She then took a room at a boarding house in Highland Park because it was close to the trolley stop that would take her to and from work. This boarding house also served communal meals to the residents, and it was there she met a young TG Rodgers who was newly relocated from Palestine, Texas. This chance meeting “from across the breakfast table” resulted in a lifetime loving marriage and produced three sons.

After the birth of the boys, she and TG pursued an independent business opportunity that took the family from Dallas to Houston, in the Spring Branch area, to start a new chapter in their life together as owners and partners in the creation and successful running of Alpha Refrigeration in 1962; a family company that is still in business to this day.

It was in Spring Branch where she found a new church home and began volunteering as a co-teacher of the preschool class at Woodhaven Baptist Church where she taught generations of children with one of her best friends, Norma Ritter. Later, after Woodhaven was sold to First Baptist Church to accommodate its growing deaf ministry, she, along with Norma stayed on learning sign language and continued teaching the children for over 40 years. With Norma, she also volunteered weekly for many years at the Church’s food and clothing mission.

She was also a dedicated artist who loved painting, pen and ink, and various other crafts. She shared this love with family and friends including her dear friend, Ellon Williams. In the late 70’s they started “JoEllon’s”, an art studio where they sold art supplies and offered painting instruction classes.

She is survived by her sons David, Richard (Angela), and Brian (Karen), her dear sister Onita Robertson, and beloved grandchildren Colin Williams (Barbara), Natalie Jones (Jerrell), Zachary Rodgers (Anna), Rachel Bradley (Kirk), Kristin Wilson (Donald), and Jake Rodgers; along with numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

She is pre-deceased by her loving husband TG, brother Stuart Turner, and daughter in law Mona Rodgers.

Funeral arrangements will be held at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home and Cemetery Saturday, February 7, 2026, at 10AM followed by a committal service at Memorial Oaks Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial in her name can be made to Houston Food Bank, Star of Hope Mission, or a charity of your choice.