Tributes

God saw him getting tired, and a cure was not to be So He put His arms around him and whispered, “Come to Me.” With tearful eyes we watched him suffer, and saw him slowly fade away. Although we loved him dearly, we could not make him stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands put to rest, God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best. Leon Rodgers, was born on April 10, 1940 in Washington, North Carolina. He was the son of Aroloa Rodgers and was raised by Lizzie Crandall. Leon was a high school graduate of Old Ford High School -Washington, North Carolina. As a young lad, he attended St. John Church of Christ -Disciples of Christ -Washington, North Carolina with his family. “Big Leon” as he was affectionately known, was a gentle giant in the trucking industry and a great mentor to young men in the trucking industry. From a young lad, he was a heavy equipment operator for various businesses, and he was a skilled man in operating bulldozers and other heavy machinery equipment. Out of all his working life, trucking was his passion and so much so that he owned and operated Rodgers Trucking Company for numerous years. “Big Leon” was a dependable, great father who loved his children and his grandchildren. He was a people person, loved to talk, laugh, and joke, would help anybody, never met a stranger, great cook, loved to eat, and always kept a plate of food in the truck with him. He didn’t have a problem with speaking his mind, and often times, when he felt he was talking to a busybody person, he would say, “you got a bad nose problem don’t you… you need to stay of other folks business!!!” And when he would speak to someone and they wouldn’t speak back, he would say, “what’s wrong with your mouth… cat got your tongue… you can’t talk!!!” “Big Leon” was very fond of the Twenty-Third Book of Psalms which reminded him that in life and in the times of plenty and want, God would take care of him!!! He was blessed with two sons (Terry & Leon) of which he raised one son (Leon, Jr.) in his home as a single parent from the age of 2 years old. At the blessed age of 83, he was blessed to love and enjoy three generations of children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Leon Rodgers slept peacefully into eternal rest on the morning of March 15, 2024 at ECU Health -Greenville, North Carolina. In addition to his parents and loved ones who raised him, he was also predeceased by his brother -Donnie Rodgers. Leon Rodgers and his precious life memories will always be cherished by his sons -Leon Langley, Jr. of Jamesville, North Carolina and Terry Edwards of Oak City, North Carolina; grandchildren -Kevon Gainer, LaMysia Durham, Teosha Langley, Leosha Langley, Laquan Langley, Kylen Downing, Crystal Simmons, Eemanhnnie Pugh, Jaylen Simmons, Tyrek Ward, Tayliah Edwards, Jhyonna Smith, Chloe Edwards, Ava Edwards, and Terry Edwards, Jr.; great grandchildren -Kaz Hawkins, Na’lij Rascoe, Rezyn’ Rascoe, Kaysley Rose Sherrod, and Kaden Cree Simmons; his siblings -Leamon Rodgers and Maelene Dobson (Ron); and a host of family and friends.

Tributes

Mr. Leon Rodgers

April 10, 1940 - March 15, 2024