Don Birdsong Rogers

Don Birdsong Rogers departed this life and this world with a legacy of love and caring for his family, friends and community on February 7, 2025. Don was born in Meridian, MS to Malcolm and Leatha Birdsong Rogers on January 17, 1947, five days after his future love and wife Kathy (Kathryn Smith Rogers).  He always called me his “old lady” as a result, but mostly sweetheart. Don and I were married on October 15, 1966 at the Lutheran Chapel on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge, LA. Almost sixty years is still not long enough.

His family was everything, and he was there for all, no matter what the occasion. We were blessed with three wonderful children: John Mark (Tracy), Benjamin Charles, and his baby girl Jennifer Paige King (Kyle). We were truly blessed with five amazing grandsons, who were the heart of his world: Chris and Nick (Kate) Rogers and Cole, Jackson and Noah King. We were, likewise, blessed with a nephew Malcolm (Macky), a grandnephew, Grant, and two nieces, Allyson and Suzanne. He was preceded in death by his father, mother, brother Malcolm (Randy) and sister Gail.

With special friends and family, he sailed on the Great Lakes, fished in pristine mountain lakes and rivers, played cards and laughed, rode bikes across several states, camped in the Rockies and hammered nails. In quiet times, he loved to read and play solitaire. He spent many hours instilling the love of the freedom of bicycle riding with his sons and grandsons, and they had many happy trail adventures.

Don’s chosen profession was the pulp and paper industry after a degree earned in chemistry at LSU, which led him to the Olin/Ecusta paper mill and our beloved new home in 1976. There, he served in the pulp mill as superintendent in research and sales and was awarded a patent. A man of wit and wisdom, always eager to learn, a firm believer in science and facts.

He cared about all people and helped others with no need for thanks. He loved and served his adopted mountain community of Brevard and Transylvania County. He became the campaign director for United Way, an advocate for the homeless, affordable housing for all, food distribution to those in need, and addiction recovery. With Oxford House, he set up group homes for men and women reclaiming their lives from addiction. Feeding the hungry was a passion he pursued at the Bread of Life community kitchen for many years and then expanding a meal kit distribution program. Through the Hunger Coalition to afterschool programs, Sharing House, SAFE, the Family Place and Haven, he personally hand delivered the kits weekly with a smile. From the beginning of the Haven, he volunteered to stay overnight and enjoyed conversations with clients who had no home.

Special thanks to the doctors and the nurses at Transylvania Regional Hospital and Pardee in Hendersonville.

I met Don when I was 17 in Louisiana. I am now 78. He would want me to continue to be with our children and grandchildren to love, support, and help guide, whether wanted or not! I will, but I also look forward to the time when we are together again.

If you wish to support one of his dear causes, he will smile because there are so many needs.

A potluck (he loved to eat) celebration of his beautiful life - with stories to be shared and music he loved - will be held on Sunday, March 9, 2025 at the Mary C. Jenkins Community Center, 221 Mills Avenue in Brevard, from eleven to two o'clock.

The family is being cared for by Asheville Area Alternative Funeral and Cremation Services.

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