Mary Louise Rodgers

MOTHER MARY LOUISE RODGERS was born on September 4, 1926, in Georgetown, S.C., to the late Deacon Ben Cooper and Lilly Cooper. She transitioned from her earthly body to her heavenly home on February 1, 2023, of natural causes. God blessed Louise with 96 strong years of life. Louise received her education from Howard High School in Georgetown S.C. She worked in various jobs throughout her life. She retired as a housekeeping supervisor in a South Baltimore nursing home, it suited her servant’s heart. Louise accepted the Lord at an early age. She was saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost and Fire at Macedonia F.B.H Church in Georgetown, S.C. in 1943, under the leadership of Rev. C. W. Gibson as Pastor, & Elder E.A. White as Ruling Elder. She enjoyed working in the Sunday school, H.Y.P.U., and other capacities of the Church. Louise was the mother of six beautiful boys, her first, the late Larry Cooper. Louise later went to work in Myrtle Beach where she met her first husband, the late James Walker Sullivan, who affectionately called her Pee-Wee. James and Louise went on to have 4 children, Ulycess H. Sullivan, Bernard Sullivan, Dereck R. Sullivan, and James W. Sullivan Jr. James moved his family to Baltimore, MD where James later died young, leaving Louise to raise her children with the help of family. Years later, Louise met her loving husband Junious J. Rodgers. She said, “Of all the suitors that took interest in me I chose Junious because he chose my boys.” “He loved and accepted them as if they were his own.” Later they went on to have a son together, Wendell J. Rodgers. Louise was a devoted mother who had a tremendous love for her family. She treasured all of her children and embraced every moment with them. She especially loved her role as Grandmother. She enjoyed preparing holiday dinners for her family as a way to reinforce strong family ties. Louise confessed that she strayed away from the Lord until she found a new church home where she was reclaimed in 1975 at Washington Temple, under the leadership of Rev. J.L. Washington, Pastor, and Elder P.S. McDaniel, Ruling Elder. It was there that she rededicated her life to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Louise spent over 45 years serving the Lord as a member of Washington Temple. After working for the church in a number of capacities she was appointed to the Mother Board. Two years after that she was appointed chair of the Mother Board and she continued into old age to work in other capacities. Washington Temple was a very special place, near & dear to her heart. Among her many interests were reading the bible, relaxing, Sunday school, and praying. She also enjoyed frequent travels to her hometown in South Carolina to visit her family and family trips to Myrtle Beach. Louise lived a full life. She is preceded in death by her husband Junious Jefferson Rodgers, James Walker Sullivan; Parents, Deacon Ben Cooper and Mother Lillie Cooper; Siblings Ben Cooper Jr., Ray Cooper, Annie Mae Young, and Idabell Thompson; Children, Larry Cooper, Ulycess Sullivan, Dereck Sullivan, and Wendell Rodgers She leaves to cherish her memory, her two sons, Bernard Sullivan (Gail Sullivan) and James Walker Sullivan; daughters-in-law, Denise Sullivan, Gwendolyn Sullivan, Barbra Cooper; goddaughter, Cheryl Baker; siblings, Wilhemina Geathers, Bessie Green, Mable Singleton, Leroy Cooper; 19 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren, 7 great-great-grandchildren, and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts.

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Mary Louise Rodgers

September 4, 1926 - February 1, 2023