John Dennis Rodgers, Sr., 73, horse trainer, electrician, and truck driver, died Thursday, November 30, 2017, at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston Salem, North Carolina, where he had made his home for the past two years.
A graveside service will be conducted Monday at 2:30 P.M. at Rose Hill Cemetery with his stepson Michael Pape officiating. The family will visit with friends Monday from 12:00 – 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.
The family suggests memorials to Rose Hill Cemetery, P. O. Box 1015, Columbia, TN 38402 or Maury Magic Riders, Inc., P. O. Box 560, Columbia, TN 38402. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com.
Born May 1, 1944 in Maury County, he was the son of the late John Windsor Rodgers and the late Maron Jeter Rodgers. Mr. Rodgers was a former longtime resident of Culleoka and served in the U. S. Air Force. He was a longtime member and Judge of the American Paint Horse Association (APHA). He served on the APHA Executive Committee and Board of Directors. He was also a member of several local and state APHA clubs. He was among ten recipients of the APHA Judge Emeritus Award in 2015. He was also a member of IBEW. He was a longtime member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include his daughters, Rebecca “Becky” (Dickie) Cook of Spring Hill and Lacey Rodgers of Christiana; step-children, Kyle (Tiffany) Pape of Magnolia, TX, and Michael (Angie) Pape of Willis, TX; brother, Jimmy (Ellen) Rodgers of Columbia; sister, Carolyn Hickman of Nashville; grandchildren, Cody Patterson, Jacob Patterson, Chelsea Patterson, Owen Caskey, Brooke Pape, Annalane Pape, Sara Pape, Nathaniel Rodgers; several nieces and nephews; and best friend and caregiver, Sheri George.
He was preceded in death by a son, John Dennis “Buddy” Rodgers; and sister, Lorena Rodgers.
