LaVerne Baker Rogers

LaVerne Baker Rogers, 83, who was not only mom to Robert ‘Bob’ Rogers (spouse Amy), Suzanne ‘Suzy’ Rogers Leroux (spouse Maurice), Tamara ‘Tami’ Rogers Dennis (spouse the late David), and Michael ‘Mike’ Rogers (spouse Ann), but who was also a teacher to thousands, left this world that was just too small for her on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at Colquitt Regional Senior Care and Rehabilitation Center.

LaVerne was born on September 9, 1940, in Moultrie, Georgia, to the late Bobby T. and Addie Green Baker, but she grew up in Crosland, Georgia, and by her own admission, caused more than a little mischief in her home growing up. LaVerne became a teacher, but her family believes if she had had a chance, she would probably have been a movie star in Hollywood, as she was one of the most beautiful and charismatic people you could ever meet. Smart beyond belief, confident, and energetic, she began her own private school in 1973, Kiddie Kollege, that so many people in Colquitt County attended; Kiddie Kollege was a Utopia. It was one of her greatest accomplishments and was cited by a national teacher’s magazine as one of the top private programs for reading readiness on the East Coast.  She was a visionary in education and was decades ahead of her time. After she moved to Florida, within three years of teaching middle school in Perry, Florida, Laverne was identified as a top 10 finalist for Teacher of the Year for the entire state of Florida.  She should have won by all accounts. Ask any of her students.

At this time, LaVerne is somewhere in this universe having coffee and smoking more cigarettes than you could count with her husband, Emory ‘Buddy’ Lee Rogers. She is also catching up with her sister Imogene Cape and aggravating her brother Warren Clark, but don’t think badly of her–he earned it, I am sure. And, her nephew Mike Register is cooking Bar-b-que for them all and smoking his share of cigarettes, as well. 

Besides Bob, Suzy, Tami, and Mike, there are others who are left here to share all her stories, the good and the bad, the unbelievable funny and sometimes tragic. They include her sister Rebecca ‘Becky’ Baker Jordan-spouse the late Riley; her grandchildren–Brendon Latham, Morgaine Leroux, Mauri Leroux, Elena Leroux, Matthew Dennis, David ‘Trey’ Dennis, Cassondra Dennis, John Rogers, and Angel Rogers Risley, a whole bunch of great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, and numerous extended family members and friends.

Because LaVerne did not want a funeral, she will not have one. Her family, however, cannot help themselves and want to plan a get-together in January of 2024, so that those who knew and loved her can tell some of their best LaVerne stories, too.  In addition to her family, friends and former students,  LaVerne loved dogs and in lieu of flowers, the family asks that, if you are inclined to do so,  donations be made to the Humane Society of Moultrie and Colquitt County in her name.