Billy Joel Rogers

Billy Rogers, 61, died Saturday, June 23, 2012.

A native of Oglethorpe County, he was the son of Laura Nell Wilson Rogers of Comer and the late Duke Rogers. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his brother, Henry Rogers, and his sister-in-law, Inez Nation. Billy was a 1969 graduate of Oglethorpe County High School, was very involved in the FFA and attended Athens Technical College for Heating and Air. He began work at Dorsey Heating and Air and was later the owner of Smithonia Heating and Air. He also owned and worked on Rocking R Farm in Smithonia.

Survivors in addition to his mother include his wife, Cheryl Emerling Rogers, sons: Ryan Dowd, Evan Posey, Alan Posey and Loran Posey, Jr.; nieces Jennifer Crawford and Robin Miller, father-in-law Dewitt Emerling and mother-in-law Rose Emerling, as well as several great nieces and nephew, cousins, extended family and friends.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at 11 a.m. at Word of Life Congregational Holiness Church with Rev. Herman Nation officiating. Burial will follow at Crawford Cemetery. Pallbearers for the service will be Kenneth Arrendale, Kyle Crawford, John Daniels, Hal Grant, Warren Mason, Ray Sanders and Roger Suddeth.

The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, June 25, 2012, at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital.

Lord & Stephens East is in charge of arrangements.