Helen McMillan Rodgers

Helen McMillan Rodgers, age 84, of Knoxville, died Thursday, January 28, 2010 at her home. She was born on February 21, 1925 to the late Edward John and Mamie Henegar McMillan in Knoxville, TN. She attended Staub School and the Tyson Junior High School and was a graduate of Knoxville High School. Helen attended Salem College. Following her junior year, she married Earnest Briscoe (Bud) Rodgers, who at the time was an ensign in the United States Navy during World War II. While she and Bud lived in Washington, D.C., he completed his naval career. They soon returned to Knoxville and started a family. Bud was affiliated with Rodgers and Co. and Standard Knitting Mills. In 1952 they moved from town to a family farm in west Knoxville where they raised their three children. After her husband’s retirement, they spent many years between Ocean Reef, Key Largo, Florida and Grandfather Mountain, Linville, North Carolina. Helen was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved husband of 60 years. She is survived by a son, Earnest Briscoe Rodgers, Jr. and his wife, Anne of Nashville; two daughters, Lea Rodgers Valentine of Knoxville, and Tena Rodgers Boehm and husband, Ned of Chattanooga; seven grandchildren, Edward Briscoe Rodgers and wife, Julie of Boston, Caroline Rodgers and Jennifer Rodgers, of Chapel Hill, NC.; Dr. Helen Boehm Johnson and husband, Charlie, of Vero Beach, Florida, Ted and Lauren Boehm, of Chattanooga, David Boehm, Atlanta, GA, Megan Hannah Creswell and husband, Chip, of Knoxville; three great-grandsons, William Lewis Johnson, Edward Boehm Johnson and Alexander McMillan Johnson, of Vero Beach, Florida, and great granddaughter, Catherine Manning Boehm, of Chattanooga. She also leaves two beloved sisters, Nancy McMillan Rodgers, of Knoxville (deceased husband, Cowan, was older brother to husband Bud Rodgers) and Peggy McMillan White and husband Bill of Chattanooga. Nieces and nephews dear to her include Roddy Rodgers and wife Julie, Katherine Mayfield, Bill White, III and wife Kristi of Chattanooga, Edward White and wife Kara of Burke, of Burke, VA., plus beloved cousins, Mamie Vohs and Barbara Burrows (Stan) and many great nieces and nephews. Chattanooga relatives, in addition to Peggy and Bill White, are Henry and Jane Henegar, Lucy and Joe Thatcher, Fletcher Bright, Anne and Polly Curtis. Special thanks and heartfelt appreciation go to her wonderful primary care doctor, Dr. Amy Bently and to her longtime friend and caregiver, Traci Rader and more recent but nevetheless greatly appreciated caregivers, Lona Ford, Fay Damewood and Frankie McCracken. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church, 3700 Keowee Avenue, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37919, the Crossnore School, Crossnore, N.C., Little Miss Mag Childcare Center, 214 Walnut Street, Chattanooga, Tn. 37403 or the charity of your choice.

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Helen McMillan Rodgers

February 21, 1925 - January 28, 2010