Mary W. Rodgers
Decatur
Funeral service for Mary W. Rodgers, 89, will be Sunday, August 25, 2024 at 1:30 PM at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial will be in Flint Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Vinemont, Alabama. Ms. Rodgers passed away on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at her residence. She was born October 28, 1934, to Herrin Emit Holmes and Mary Thelma Holmes, who preceded her in death. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Saint Bernard College, Master of Science degree and E.D.S. degree from George Peabody College. She taught for 32 years at Morgan County High School in Hartselle, Alabama, where she also coached competitive gymnastics, track and field, archery and golf, along with initiating an innovative girl’s intramural physical education program including swimming, diving, bowling, volleyball, basketball, badminton, and tennis. She competed at the national level in Archery where she received state and national recognition. She was picked to coach the Southern Division Olympic Archery Team in 1980, which was held in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Both Gymnastics and Archery teams placed at the state level in competition. She was inducted into the Morgan County Sports Hall of Fame in 1998. She served on the State Physical Education and Health Education Task Force and was the recipient of the Governors Physical Fitness Leadership Award. In addition, she authored and published two books detailing her early life growing up as the daughter of her merchant father, “He-Ho” Holmes. Survivors include her daughter, Rhonda Ann Hudson; grandchildren, Kimberly Mitchell, David Hudson and Stephen Hudson; great-grandchildren, Abi Melendez Boizan (Jean) and Ali Melendez; great-great grandson, Baylor Boizan; and cousins, Reginald Dodson (Judy), Sandra Dotson, Bruce Wheeler (Nell) and Dale Wheeler (Susan). Pallbearers will be grandsons, Stephen and David Hudson, along with Jerry Jackson, Charley Chaney and Russ Reavis.
