Annette Rogers was a woman of faith.  Her steadfast devotion to God, her family and friends impacted all around her.  Her consciousness to her teaching of Sunday School for 46 years as well as her consistent membership to First Baptist Church in Hope, Arkansas, showed her unwavering devotion and uncompromising integrity that blessed everyone who knew her.  At the age of nineteen, her devotion to her country during World War II led her to become employed by the U.S. Army as a secretarial assistant at the new and nearby Southwestern Proving Grounds and Military Airport of the Army Ordnance Corps.  This knowledge, uncovered from her youth, allowed her to be officially recognized as a “Civilian Veteran” by the World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Annette’s attention to detail led her to become a member of a variety of state and local institutions and a woman Arkansas loved and respected.  Annette loved people and always wanted to help others.  Annette passed away June 17, 2018, in Texarkana.

She was born on February 4, 1927, to Marguerite (Turner) Amonette and Samuel Ernest Amonette.  Annette married C.M. “Pod” Rogers, Jr., on January 5, 1947, with whom she had two children, Douglas Edwin and Alex Bradford Rogers.

Annette worked tirelessly from the start as a secretary for the Army Ordnance Corps.  She attended Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia earning her degree in Business.

After marrying, she and “Pod” started working under Alex Washburn at the Hope Star Telegram.  Annette worked as the “Women’s News” Editor.  She and Pod slowly worked the whole family into “The Affair of the Written Word,” and how powerful it was to affect change locally as well as globally for over 30 years.  Annette, alongside her husband, revived the Modern Day Hope Watermelon Festival 42 years ago, and it is still going strong, bringing in thousands of visitors to enjoy Hope, the event and our delicious “Hope Watermelons.”

Annette always supported her husband as he traveled the country and was on numerous television shows promoting his community of Hope as a wonderful place to live in an atmosphere where some of the largest and most delicious watermelons in the world, are grown.

Having made so many friends in Hope, Annette was asked to be in charge of many organizations over the years.  She opened her doors to whatever the community needed, and to this day, “Miss Annette” is a treasured soul for so many reasons.  Annette undeniably loved Hope and its people.

Services for Annette are scheduled for Tuesday June 19, 2018, in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Hope, at 3:30pm (315 S. Main Street), followed by a short graveside at Rosehill Cemetary (S. Hazel St.). All services will be officiated by Daniel Bramlett and Stan Parris under the direction of Brazzel-Oakcrest Funeral Home.

Family will greet friends after the service in First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall with punch and cookies being served.

Survivors are Annette’s sister Marjorie Amonette (Carlton) Chambers from Hideaway Lake, Texas; sons, Brad Rogers of Hope, and Douglas Edwin Rogers and daughter in law of 38 years, Alice, Bryant, AR. Their sons, Drew & Ryan (wife Hannah and great grandson Cohen Samuel Rogers).

Annette is also survived by her six nieces; Sue Duckett Smith of Hope; Mrs. Tim Reeves of Stuttgart, AR; Marguerite Robinson from Nashville, AR; Mrs. Charles Lelland Bussey of Dallas, TX; Mrs. Lynn D. Lisk from Fort Smith, AR and Mrs. John S. Gibson of Hideaway, TX.  Annette is also survived by her six nephews, Jesse Duckett of Hope; George Armstrong from Missouri; Joseph Armstrong from Hot Springs, AR.; Mark and Carlton Amonette from Nashville, AR and Dr. J. Fulton Amonette from West Helena, AR.  Annette was predeceased by her parents; husband C.M. “Pod” Rogers of Hope, and her brother, Samuel Edwin Amonette of Nashville, AR;  sister Yvonne Amonette Armstrong of Stuttgart, AR and one nephew Tim Duckett of Hope.

If desired, Annette asks for memorials to be  made to First Baptist Church (First Baptist Church / 315 S.Main St. / Hope, AR 71801), in her memory.

To view obit online, please go to www.brazzelfuneralhomes.com