Jennifer Carol Rogers

Jennifer Carol Rogers, 79, of Conway, Arkansas passed away on Sunday, August 7, 2022 in her home. Jennifer was born in Batesville, Arkansas on July 28, 1943; the daughter of Jake Raymond Engles and Bessie Goodin Engles. She married her husband Frank Rogers on January 26, 1974, sharing 48 years of marriage.
Jennifer's father purchased the old opera house on Main Street in Batesville in the late 1930's after having served as Independence County sheriff. The theater renamed the Melba is where Jennie grew up and nurtured her love for the entertainment industry where she would spend her life. After receiving her masters degree from Memphis State in 1973 she was hired by WREC Channel 3 television part time running camera for the morning show Good Morning from Memphis. The company discovered she could edit film and they moved her to the film vault. As her career progressed, she broke the glass ceiling and became the first woman to be the producer and director in the Memphis market. She directed and produced the Channel 3 news. Life took her into teaching, first in Oklahoma for Oklahoma State University teaching Television production. Then it brought her back to Arkansas and she taught Radio and Television Engineering, Producing, Directing, and writing for film at Arkansas State University She eventually retired from teaching after 19+ years at Arkansas State University, then went to work at AETN until her health prevented working.
She was among the first cast members at Silver Dollar City. While there, 5 episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies were filmed and she had the opportunity to be Grannie's stand-in and tap dance with Buddy Ebsen. She also had a small role in the 1970 film Bloody Mama with Shelley Winters, Robert De Niro, and Bruce Dern. While at Channel 3 Memphis, she became the director for several Saint Jude Telethons working closely with Danny and Marlo Thomas.
Jennifer never met a stranger. When she won the Academic Advisor Award, the President of Arkansas State University, Dr. Les Wyatt said of her that “All people were equal in her eyes; she shared the same courtesy with the President of the United States and the housekeeping staff. She loved people and her ministry was to uplift and encourage them. She truly encompassed being salt and light to a dark world.
Jennifer leaves to cherish her memory, her husband Frank Rogers of Conway, Arkansas, her son Joshua Rogers and his wife Elizabeth of Wynne, Arkansas, her three granddaughters Mackenzie, Mattie, and Amelia Rogers, her brothers Jake Engles of Cabot, Arkansas and Joel Engles of Lexington North Carolina. She was preceded in death by her parents, half brother John Engles, and half sister Mary Ellen Huddleston.
Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, August 11, 2022 from 1:00-2:00 pm at Griffin Leggett Conway, 1751 Dave Ward Drive, Conway Arkansas 72034. Funeral services will begin at 2:00 pm at the funeral home, with Pastor Dan Hammit officiating. Her wishes were to be cremated and to be placed in her family’s plot in Oaklawn Cemetery in Batesville, Arkansas at a later date.
Her husband and son suggest that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be sent to the Conway City Animal Shelter, 1105 Prairie St Conway, AR 72032 or by using this link: https://conwayarkansas.gov/animal-welfare/.