For all who knew him, Jay Patrick Rogers lived his life well. He loved his church, family and his God and lived life to the fullest. He went to live with God on September 10, 2026.
The youngest child of Arthur Larry and Agnes Cree Rogers, both musicians, he was born October 8, 1943 in Salisbury, NC. He gave his life to Christ as a youngster and was eager to study the Bible all his life.
In 1953 his family moved to Charlotte, where he attended Myers Park Elementary and High Schools, Class of 1961.
He loved music, playing clarinet and cello, and sports. A fine player on the football team, he was honored to be selected for the Shrine Bowl in 1961. He continued to play football at Davidson College, Class of 1965. Jay served in the U.S. Army for two years, the second of which he was deployed in Korea.
After his discharge, Jay entered the petroleum equipment sales industry. He became an independent sales representative, an authority on tank regulations, and a trusted advisor to business owners across North Carolina and Virginia. It was his great joy to travel daily through the scenic beauty of North Carolina, the Shenandoah Valley and Tidewater Virginia to work for the next 45 years.
Jay was a devoted church member all his life, serving as a teacher for youth and adults, an elder, and clerk of session. He sang tenor in church choirs for 35 years. His particular joy was singing with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra for 11 years. He loved and supported opera and symphonies in every town he lived in: Winston-Salem, Roanoke, Norfolk and Charlotte.
Jay married Ann McNeill Lankford of Elkin in 1974. She shared his passions for worship, theatre, music, travel and spectator sports. She survives, as do daughters Molly Elizabeth Campbell and Barbara Ann Rogers, both of Norfolk, Va.; grandchildren Isabel Barrett Campbell (Santa Cruz, CA) and James McNeill Campbell (Gastonia, NC).
Jay was a walking archive of family lore, a wise and trusted advisor to daughters, nieces, nephews and other friends. He brought joy and humor to every gathering with his wit and acting skills. Many a dinner was highlighted by his comical faces, imitations and recitations.
Jay saw each twist and turn of life as a new adventure. His attitude was courageous in illness. He was a Godly man, generous and forgiving. He loved his neighbors and knew how to be a friend. His retirement years were happy ones, full of golf, spectator sports, summers in the mountains, connecting with lifelong friends and making new ones.
Jay dearly loved his siblings, Dr. Larry A. Rogers and Carroll Whittle Zimmerman, both deceased, and their children. Surviving are his nieces and nephews Dr. Chip Rogers, PhD of Macon, GA; Dr. Louise Rogers MD, Carroll R. Walton and J. Duke Rogers, all of Charlotte; Betsy W. Hearl of West Palm Beach, FL; Kathy W. Beard of Waxhaw, NC, and their spouses and children.
A memorial service is planned for Monday, October 26, 2026 at 2 p.m. at Myers Park United Methodist Church, 1501 Queens Rd, Charlotte, NC 28207.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to The Davidson Trust of Davidson College, 209 Ridge Rd., Box 5000, Davidson, NC 28035 or the Walter Ball Music Endowment of Myers Park United Methodist Church.