Biography: Josephine Raye Jackson Rogers, 101, died peacefully at her Little Rock home surrounded by family on February 7, 2024. Raye was born with twin sister Sarah Faye on June 14, 1922, in Balch, AR, to Minnie Camp and William Andrew “Andy” Jackson. Raye and Faye excelled in school as teenagers. Raye often spoke of her class rank and her love of poetry, diagramming sentences, and playing basketball. She also reminisced how she and Faye were twin Homecoming Queens. They graduated from Newport High School in 1939.
 
At “eighteen-and-a-half years old,” Raye married the love of her life Doyle Wayne Rogers, Senior, on March 31, 1941, with “$12.00 in Doyle’s pocket.” They were married for 72 years. The first of two children, Barbara Josephine, was born several years later in Newport, AR. And Doyle Wayne “Rog,” Junior, followed to complete their family of four. Raye often spoke of the challenges of working the night shift as a telephone switchboard operator in their early married years. She also recalled traveling with infant Barbara via passenger train to visit Doyle when he was stationed in Amarillo, TX, during World War II.
 
The Rogers family moved from Newport to Batesville, AR, after Doyle accepted a position as Station Master with the Rock Island Railroad. They soon joined First United Methodist Church and began their life together serving the Lord and their Batesville community. Doyle founded the Doyle Rogers Realty and Insurance Agency and Raye became a member of Junior Auxiliary and PEO. Raye was an active member of the Batesville Parent Teacher Association, served as a Scout Mother, and founded the Batesville High School Pioneer Prancers. Later on, Raye served on the White River Medical Center Foundation Board and helped establish the Josephine Raye Rogers Center for Women & Imaging at the White River Medical Center. Along with Charlotte and Preston Grace, Raye and Doyle donated the building for the Old Independence Regional Museum.
 
Raye and Doyle split their time between Batesville and Little Rock, where Doyle created a second office of his real estate company and built the Excelsior Hotel, now known as the Marriott Little Rock, the Statehouse Convention Center, the Rogers Building, now known as The Stephens Building, and multiple shopping centers. Raye was a Founding and Lifetime Member of the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Board of Advisors and also a Board Member of the UAMS Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging. She served on the Boards of The Methodist Foundation of Arkansas, Philander Smith College, Ballet Arkansas, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, the Florence Crittenton Home, and the Old Statehouse Museum Associates. She volunteered with the Arkansas Arts Center, now known as the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, and Wildwood Park for the Performing Arts. Raye received Honorary Doctorate Degrees from Lyon College and Philander Smith College.
 
Raye and Doyle cherished their many friendships that spanned multiple generations. She was a wonderful hostess at their home in Batesville and also at Hidden Dunes Beach and Tennis Resort in Destin, FL. Raye was known as “The Lob Queen” on the tennis court. She played bridge for decades in Batesville. Raye and Doyle traveled with friends to Asia and Europe, even flying on the Concorde and cruising on the Queen Elizabeth 2.
 
Known as “Gran” to her grandchildren and their friends, Raye knew how to make someone feel special and often spent hours talking on the phone just to hear how that person was doing. She never forgot a person’s name or the price paid for any of her many cherished collectibles gathered over the years from places near and far. Raye frequently recited Bible verses and liked to sing “Jesus Loves Me” and “The Old Rugged Cross.”
 
Raye was preceded in death by her parents Minnie and Andy Jackson; sister Faye and her husband Virgil Lewis; and brother Vaughn Camp Jackson, his wife Floy, and their daughter Ina Lee. Raye also was preceded in death by her husband Doyle and son-in-law Paul Williams “Pete” Hoover, Junior.
 
Raye is survived by her daughter Barbara Josephine, son Rog and his wife Carolyn Wilmans Rogers, and 6 grandchildren: Wendy Linnea Rogers Rasch, Robin and Jackson Doyle Rogers, Josephine Lasley “Josie” Hoover and Dr. Daniel Felton, Jennifer Josephine Rogers and Daniel Beck, Anastasia Elizabeth “Stacey” Rogers, and Kayla and Joseph Joel Rogers. Raye is also survived by 15 great-grandchildren: Audrey Raye and Zeke Rasch; Auburn and Navy Petty; Emmy and Grayson Rogers; Josephine and Mary Eleanor Felton; Harrison, Cora Jane, and Theo Beck; Brenna and Jonah Williams and Ava Josephine Johnston; and Hudson Rogers. Raye is also survived by her nephew William A. “Bill” Lewis and his wife Donna Sue. And Raye is survived by her many friends who cherished their lifelong friendships with her.
 
Raye’s family would like to thank Dr. Jeanne Wei, Dr. Konstantinos Arnatoutakis, and Dr. Kent Westbrook of UAMS for their exceptional and loving care and friendship and also for adding life to Raye’s years. Much gratitude also is extended to Raye’s caregivers Anna Adamson, Linda Clem, Tracy Clem, Glenda Hernstrom, Jeannie Huff, Kelly King, Joyce Simms, and Deborah Stites, and to Raye’s friend Retired Rear Admiral Bob Carius. The family also wishes to acknowledge the wonderful dedication and friendship of Anita Wyatt and Pam Cantrell who have been with the Doyle Rogers Company in Batesville for over forty years.
 
Memorials either may be sent to the UAMS Institutional Advancement, 4301 West Markham, No. 716, Little Rock, AR 72205 with a designation of “UAMS Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging” or “UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute” or to First United Methodist Church, 615 E. Main Street, Batesville, Arkansas 72501.
 
A Celebration of Life will be held at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, 4823 Woodlawn Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205 at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 13, 2024. A Reception will immediately follow the Celebration at the Britt A. Skarda Gathering Hall at PHUMC. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com