Martha Lou Rogers

With her husband by her side, Martha Lou Rogers, 86, passed away peacefully from this life into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on April 18, 2023. Born June 22, 1936, in Dallas, Texas, to John M. Whiteman and Dorothy May Stead (Miller), she was the oldest of three children. After graduation in 1953 from Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, she attended Baylor University graduating in 1957. Following graduation, she moved to Houston, joining Houston's First Baptist Church where she was introduced by Marge Caldwell to the love of her life, Rex Rogers. She and Rex were married on October 24, 1959.
Mrs. Rogers began a career as a home economist with Houston Lighting & Power Company in 1957. In 1963, she began a teaching career that spanned 28 years: first at Black Junior High moving to Scarborough Junior/Senior High School in 1968 shortly after it opened. She then moved to Houston Christian High School (f/k/a Northwest Academy) in 1981 where she taught 9th grade English until 1991. During her tenure at Scarborough, she was the Student Council and Future Homemakers of America sponsor. During her tenure at Northwest Academy, she was the Student Council sponsor. After obtaining her Master of Education at the University of Houston (UH), she taught English at Houston Community College for another 8 years and was a coordinator for student teachers at UH.
She and Rex remained lifelong members of Houston's First Baptist Church where they both served as 9th grade Sunday School directors for many years. Martha sang in the choir for over 50 years, and later in life, she co-led First Place for Health and taught senior adult women's Bible study.
Retiring from teaching, Martha pursued a lifelong dream of creative writing. After writing numerous magazine articles, Martha received her first book contract on her 73rd birthday. Becoming Lucy was published in January 2010. Her philosophy was to never give up on your dreams. Ultimately, she had over 50 novels and novellas published along with numerous devotionals and Bible studies. Martha was a very active member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association and was named Writer of the Year at the Texas Christian Writers Conference in 2009 and ACFW Volunteer of the Year in 2014. She was a former president of the Woodlands Chapter of ACFW and president of Inspirational Writers Alive. Martha's love of writing and her seemingly boundless energy in serving Him at writer's groups, in critique groups, and at the annual ACFW conference (which she hardly ever missed) was an inspiration to countless Christian authors over the years. In her writing and in her life, Martha taught by example and is a reminder that nothing will keep God from using your gifts for His glory, be it age or anything else.
Her passions were shaping and teaching youth, preparing them to be future leaders and followers of Christ, as well as encouraging aspiring authors. One of her former 9th grade students wrote: "I specifically remember Mrs. Rogers encouraging me as a writer. She told me that a good writer describes what they are talking about without having to necessarily say what it is. Over 35 years later, I still think about that writing tip frequently. Mrs. Rogers is the perfect example of a teacher who influenced me as a follower of Jesus and as a leader."
She loved her Baylor Bears and Houston Astros, but most of all she loved her family. Martha is preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy May Stead (Miller), her father and stepmother, John, and Faye Whiteman. She leaves behind her husband of 63 years, Rex; three children Rex Bailey Rogers, Jr. and wife Debbie of Waco, Robert and wife Leeann of Houston and Michael and wife Sloane of Tulsa, Oklahoma; grandchildren Erin Mosier and husband Matt of Norman, OK; Kaci and Jeremy Kimbrough of Nacogdoches; Ryan Rogers of Irving; Seth Rogers and wife Katherine of Fort Worth; Robert Mikell Rogers and Jonathan Rogers of Houston; Madison Rogers of Tulsa, OK; Larson Rogers of New York City and Harrison Rogers of Tulsa; 7 great-grandchildren, sister Betty Nance of Fort Worth and brother John Whiteman, Jr. of Navasota, Texas, plus a host of loving, extended family members and friends. She was an influential figure in the lives of innumerable youth, young adults, and aspiring writers.
In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution in Martha's memory made out to "Houston's First Baptist Church" for Bible translations and send to 7401 Katy Freeway, Suite 603, Houston TX 77024.