[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 12756-12757]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE LIFE OF NETTIE B. ROGERS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE COHEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 1, 2010

  Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Nettie 
Brown Rogers, a woman of keen faith and conviction who selflessly 
served the spiritual community of Memphis, Tennessee for over fifty 
years. Born in Memphis to Arthur and Bertha Brown on October 25, 1922, 
Nettie Rogers was a committed wife to Floyd Rogers, a caring mother of 
seven children and a community leader among the city's Baptist 
Churches.
  Deeply devoted to her Christian faith, Mrs. Rogers was a pioneering 
woman who accepted her calling to religion ``no matter what men might 
say.'' In 1958, she and 22 other community members co-founded Grace 
Missionary Baptist Church in Memphis. A committed member of Grace M.B. 
Church, Mrs. Rogers also served for ten years as an associate minister 
at New Salem Missionary Baptist Church where she was said to have done 
everything but preach.
  In 1968, Mrs. Rogers founded the Memphis Inter-Denominational 
Fellowship, Inc., a nonprofit that supports spiritual growth, Christian 
and public education and initiatives to reduce crime, juvenile 
delinquency and illiteracy. Under Mrs. Rogers's leadership, the Memphis 
Inter-Denominational Fellowship pursued creative initiatives, such as 
the ``Back to Church School Crusade,'' which established National 
Church School Day on the first Sunday in June. Through Operation Bread 
Basket, Mrs. Rogers provided food for over 30 years to individuals, 
churches, nursing homes and other community agencies. Endowed with 
faith, wisdom, and an unselfish love, Mrs. Rogers's life was 
characterized by such acts of unwavering commitment to Christian and 
community service.
  Mrs. Rogers's home in South Memphis was adorned with awards and 
letters from churches, schools and organizations documenting the 
achievements of her distinguished life. In

[[Page 12757]]

2009, she was posthumously awarded the Ruby R. Wharton Outstanding 
Woman award in the area of Youth and Delinquency by Mayor AC. Wharton. 
That same year she was inducted into the Memphis African American 
Museum's Hall of Pulpits, the only woman among 12 male preachers. In 
2007 and 2008, I issued Congressional proclamations commending her 
outstanding work in the community supporting youth engagement. In 2006 
and 2008, the State of Tennessee House of Representatives passed Joint 
Resolutions honoring Mrs. Rogers for her strength in character and 
commitment to selfless good works. In 2002, the City of Memphis renamed 
the street she lived on to Fountain Court in her honor. Mrs. Rogers 
also received awards and recognition from the April 4th Foundation, 
Grace M.B. Church, the National Association of Negro Business and 
Professional Women's Club and LeMoyne-Owen College, among other well-
deserved distinctions.
  Nettie Rogers passed away at her home in South Memphis on February 
12, 2009 at the age of 86. She is survived by four daughters, two sons, 
14 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and the legacy of her faith 
and public service. In the words of her daughter, Dr. Inetta F. Rogers 
who serves as the President of Memphis Inter-Denominational Fellowship, 
``I saw her as a role model in the community and I'm preaching in 
pulpits where she couldn't.'' Memphis has been blessed to have 
benefited from the good deeds of this exceptional mother, wife, friend, 
spiritual advisor and ministry leader. Hers was a life well lived.

                          ____________________