Betty Ann Adams Rogers

The daughter of Mabel Clair McShane Adams and Roscoe Summers Adams, Betty Ann was born in Charlottesville, Virginia on June 12, 1930. She was a 1948 graduate of Lane High School and enrolled at Mary Washington College to complete her requirements for nursing school. She then attended The University of Pennsylvania, earning her BS in Nursing in 1952. Her first nursing job took her to Durham NC, where she met and married Richard Rogers, a student at The Duke University School of Medicine.

Betty Ann was the devoted mother of nine children, who were always her greatest source of pride and joy. Finding herself raising her family on her own, she returned to the nursing profession in Chapel Hill, NC and balanced the demands of work and motherhood with strength, faith, and determination. She was a skilled Family Practice nurse who cared deeply for her patients and colleagues and earned the respect of those she worked alongside. She was an unwavering advocate for her son Rusty and others with Down Syndrome and intellectual and developmental disabilities, and a committed fan of the UNC Tarheels.

Her resilience, grace, strong character, and steady example were an inspiration to her family and everyone who knew her.

Betty Ann is survived by eight children: Richard L. Rogers, Jr. (Page), William H. Rogers (Laura), Lisa R. Parker (Lee), Timothy P. Rogers (Lucy), Joseph M. Rogers (Tina), Laura R. Donahue (Chris), Michael L. Rogers (Robin), and Samuel T. Rogers; 18 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and her brother, William H. Adams.

Betty Ann was preceded in death by her beloved son Rusty Rogers, cherished granddaughter Polly M. Rogers, brother Roscoe S. Adams, and sisters Jane A. Lile and Kathleen A. Lunsford.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the wonderful team at the Springmoor Life Care Retirement Community’s Stewart Health Center and to Transitions LifeCare for their caring support.

Private family services will be held to celebrate Betty Ann’s life.

To honor Betty Ann and her son Rusty, donations can be made to RSI Community, via a link at rsi-nc.org, or mailed to RSI Community, 111 Providence Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's Street Raleigh, NC is serving the Rogers family.