MARY HELEN O. ROGERS

Mary Helen Ouzts Rogers, 91, widow of Thomas Luther "Luke" Rogers, died Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, at Covenant Place.

Born Oct. 17, 1927, in Greenwood, she was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Roy Ouzts.

Mrs. Rogers was educated in the public schools of Ninety-Six and received her B.A. degree in English from Winthrop College in 1948. While at Winthrop, she was affiliated with several clubs, the BSU and the Student Government board. She earned a MEd-equivalent degree from the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

Mrs. Rogers taught school for 33 years in Sumter School Districts 17 and 2 and Wilson Hall. She was a devoted wife, mother and teacher. She was a charter member of Alice Drive Baptist Church and was a present member of First Baptist Church. She was a member of the Faith Sunday School class, former member of the WMU and was former chairman of the flower committee. She was a former Tuomey volunteer, substitute teacher, nursery school teacher, volunteer for the Heart Association, Cancer Society and March of Dimes. She served on the Salvation Army Advisory Board and was the chairwoman.

While a teacher, she was a member of NEA, SCEA, Palmetto State Teachers Association, Pee Dee International Reading Association, S.C. Teachers of Mathematics and served as Math-A-Thon chairwoman and lead teacher. She was also a member and chairwoman of numerous educational and curriculum committees.

Social memberships include The Trian Club, Sunset Country Club, Golden Girls' Club and Thursday's Women Club.

She is survived by a son, T. L. "Tommy" Rogers Jr. (Cindy Rogers) of Macon, Georgia.; a daughter, Helen Teresa "Terri" Seignious (Dr. David Seignious) of Johns Island; four grandchildren, Dr. Allison Paine (Joel), Dr. Trey Rogers, Patrick Seignious (Nicole Seignious) and Hayden Seignious; and two great-grandchildren, Tabitha Paine and J.J. Paine.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Myrtle O. Buddin.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in the Chapel of the Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home with the Rev. Bob Calvert officiating.

Burial will be at the Sumter Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Jeff Young, Dick Mahon, Mark Brody, Curtis Spencer, Buddy Harper and Eddie Newman.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. R.E. McDowell, Jimmy Newman, Mike Newman, Bobby Rabon, Sonny Hurst and Tommy Hall.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 2229, Sumter, SC 29151; First Baptist Church, 107 E. Liberty St., Sumter, SC 29150; Covenant Place, 2825 Carter Road, Sumter, SC 29150; or to a charity of one's choice.

Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com.

Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home and Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.