Josephine Raye Rogers
By Twyla Wright
Raye Rogers lived beautifully and graciously for over 101 years. She was a stunning and amazing woman in multiple ways. I first met her when her husband Doyle introduced her to me back in 1995. I was the chairperson of Batesville’s museum planning committee then. That day a news conference had been called. Doyle and Raye, plus the Preston Grace, Sr., family, officially donated their large stone building and its 2 lots to become Batesville’s Old Independence Regional Museum.
Raye was beautifully dressed and coiffed, and she looked directly at me with an amazing kindness. She was sophisticated with a twinkle in her eyes. From that day until just last year when she and I sat together again in the museum, she was committed and proud of this museum.
Back in 1997 she eagerly volunteered to serve on the museum’s “Furnishings Committee.” For months she enthusiastically contributed her ideas, getting ready for the museum opening in 1998. She and Kate Cooke would put their heads together, even traveling out of town to purchase chairs for the program room. They invited me time and again to have lunch with them and we laughed together. I was amazed at how kind she always was to those who served us.
Doyle and Preston contributed a huge amount of money to pay for the museum’s Archival Wing in honor of their wives. Raye would make visits during its construction, and after the room was painted a dark apricot color she said to me, “Oh Twyla, I don’t think this is going to work!” But when I encouraged her to wait and see, she agreed and later hugged me and said “I love this color!” Her magnificent photograph was mounted in the room and continues to be displayed there.
Raye stayed involved, attending special events held in the museum over the years. She helped cut the ribbon when a large exhibit was opened, and even helped serve our anniversary cake after the museum had been open for a couple of years.
When we wanted to celebrate the museum’s 10th anniversary in a big way, she said, “Let me talk to Governor Mike Beebe and get him to be the speaker.” And she did, and he came! Due to her statewide connections, she made things happen for the museum. She and Doyle contributed hundreds of dollars annually for several years, too.
Her memory, especially of names and events, was phenomenal! And she always made sure to say “I love you” to people who were special to her. An oral history of her life is archived in the museum for anyone to listen to how very special her life was as she ministered to others.
