Obituary of Edward Neal Rodgers

Edward Neal Rodgers of Talladega, AL passed away on Monday, January 8, 2024, at the age of 90. A funeral ceremony will be held in his honor at Usrey Funeral Home of Talladega on Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 1:00 P.M. with Dr. Robert Klotz officiating. His family will receive friends at the funeral home for one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery. Neal was born in Yolande, Alabama, on March 16, 1933, and later moved to Talladega. He graduated from Winterboro High School and served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953. He later graduated from Jacksonville State University with a B.S. Degree in Business Administration and Economics. In 1967 he opened and began operating Neal Rodgers Textile Distributors, Inc. and after 55 years, retired as its President in 2023. As an active civic leader, Neal was past President of the Talladega Lions Club and Talladega Industrial Park, Inc. He is the former Chairman of the Vocational Advisory Council at Talladega Vocational School and the Talladega Public Building Authority. He was a member of the State Board East-West Lions Baseball, the Board of Directors for the ARC of North Talladega County, the Red Door Kitchen, and the Marianne Green Equestrian Center. He also served as a Boy Scout Leader for Ridgeview Baptist Church, and coached Talladega Little League baseball and youth basketball. Neal served on the Board of Directors of the First National Bank of Talladega/First Bank of Alabama for more than 30 years. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Talladega. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Stokley Rodgers and Minnie Belle Freeman Rodgers; brothers, Walter E. “Bub” Rodgers, William Stokley “Billy” Rodgers, Jr., Robert “Bobby” Freeman Rodgers; sisters, Willie Belle Rodgers Stockton and Sarah Louise Rodgers Snipes. Mr. Rodgers is survived by his wife of more than 67 years, Linda Chappell Rodgers; son, Ronald Neal Rodgers (Renae); daughter, Leigh Ann Keith (Chuck); grandchildren, Jessica Rodgers Hughes Hyde (Waylon), Joshua David Rodgers (Lauren), Christopher Michael Barnes (Anna), and Kristen Elizabeth Keith; great-grandchildren, Jonathan Luke Hughes, Emery Kate Rodgers, Ellison Grace Rodgers, Owen Cooper Rodgers, Daniel Owen Barnes, and Madison Ann Hyde; and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Chuck Keith, Christopher Barnes, Joshua Rodgers, Ricky Barber, David Duke, and Luke Hughes. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Board of Directors of the First Bank of Alabama and First Baptist Church Men’s Sunday School Class. The family will receive flowers or contributions can be made to First Baptist Church, the Arc of North Talladega County, Coosa Valley Home Health, or Coosa Valley Hospice. Online condolences may be offered at www.usreyfuneralhome.com. Usrey Funeral Home of Talladega is directing the services.