Virginia Davis “Ginga” Hood Rogers, 85, died May 6, 2011 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease at her home in Vernon, Alabama. She was under the care of Fayette Medical Center Hospice and with family by her side.
Ginga was born July 9, 1925 in Clarksburg, West Virginia, to Robert Carhart Hood and Virginia Hornor Davis Hood. She was a longtime summer resident of Newagen, Maine, and in retirement a winter resident of New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
She graduated from Swarthmore College in 1947 and attended the Yale School of Nursing. She and her husband moved many times during their working life. Early residences included New Haven, Connecticut; Austin, Texas; and Worcester, Massachusetts. After moving to Florida she worked as a substitute teacher and was a Girl Scout leader. Next, in Atlanta, she was employed by Emory University in the security department. After a year in Canada she moved to Auburn, Alabama and worked as the director of the Lee County chapter of the American Red Cross. She was commended for her work in organizing blood drives and disaster relief efforts. She and her husband retired in 1986.
A talented tenor, Ginga sang in the choir of each of her church homes. These included First Presbyterian Church of Orange Park, Florida; Hillside Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Georgia; Grace United Methodist Church in Auburn, Alabama; Southport United Methodist Church in Southport, Maine; and St. Peter the Fisherman Episcopal Church in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. She still knew and sang hymns after she could no longer read.
Her many hobbies included knitting, crocheting, embroidery, and sewing. She made clothes for her children when they were young and sewed special items such as dolls, toy animals, drapes, and sailboat accessories. She was a talented cook, fixing gourmet meals in a sailboat galley and preparing many exotic meats brought home by her husband. She loved reading and was a skilled crossword puzzle partner. She was an accomplished first mate and navigator on the 33’ sloop “Spike’s Girl”, finding locations and plotting courses before the advent of GPS.
Ginga was known for her outgoing and friendly personality. Family members say she never met a stranger, often striking up conversations with people in public and sometimes embarrassing her children in the process. She leaves behind many friends that she made in every place she lived.
She is survived by Charles Morey “Charlie” Rogers, her husband of 63 years; three children, Margaret Virginia “Meg” Rogers (John Kunsch) of Archer & New Smyrna Beach, Florida; Prudence Elizabeth “Beth” Lassetter (Dan) of Vernon, Alabama; and James Herbert “Jim” Rogers (Melanie) of Huntsville, Alabama; four grandchildren, Jason and Michael (Susan) Lassetter, and Laurel and Lindsey Rogers; cousin Elizabeth “Liddy-Boo” Hart Guiher (Jim) of New York City.
Preceding her in death are her parents; an infant daughter Louise; her brother, David Lincoln Hood of Clarksburg, West Virginia; and cousins John “Buddy” Hart, Mary Isabelle Hart Ferguson Wilson, and Catharine “Canky” Hart Brown. The Hart cousins were raised by her family and were like siblings to Ginga and her brother.
Ginga chose to give her body to help further Alzheimer’s research. The family plans to hold a memorial service at a later date. Memorial donations can be made to the First United Methodist Church, PO Box 608, Vernon, Alabama 35592, for tornado relief. Cards and letters of condolence can be mailed to the church c/o Charles Rogers. An alternate charity is the Pine Tree Society, PO Box 518, Bath, ME 04530. The society helps people in Maine with disabilities lead richer, more socially connected lives.
