Mills Leroy Rogers, Jr.

CLEVELAND – Mills Leroy Rogers Jr., age 93, of Cleveland, MS passed away on Tuesday, July 12, 2022. 

Visitation for Mills L Rogers will be held on Thursday, July 14, 2022, from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM at Cleveland Funeral Home, followed by a celebration of life service at 11:00 AM, Pastor Brad Beckwith will be officiating the services. Burial will follow in the North Cleveland Cemetery.

Mills was born on November 15, 1928, to Mills Rogers Sr. and Lorna Leigh Rogers in Cleveland, MS.  He graduated from Cleveland High School in 1946. He continued his education at Delta State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology.  Mills later attended Mississippi State University and earned a Masters in Entomology. He started Rogers Entomological Services in Cleveland in the early 1950s and ran that until he retired in the late 1990s and his son, Lee Rogers took over the family business. He employed many young men in his business and taught them how to appreciate hard work and how to be successful businessmen. When he turned 50 years of age, Mills decided to relearn the tuba, the instrument that earned him scholarships to college and began playing in church orchestras. He loved restoring antique cars and when his youngest daughter was married bought his Silver Ghost Rolls Royce to take her and her husband from the Church to the reception.

He was preceded in death by his parents Mills Rogers Sr. and Lorna Leigh Rogers, his loving wife Patricia Anne Rogers, and his brother Eugene Rogers.

Mills is survived by his daughter Lorna Anne Pyles (Garry) of Kilgore Texas, Daughter Rhonda Renay Blackwood (Don) of Cleveland Mississippi, and Daughter Camille R. Burns (Kevin) of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Son Mills Leroy Rogers III (Tommicile) of Cleveland Mississippi. Mills is also survived by Grandchildren David Reily, Elizabeth Anderson, Rance Richard, Rani Richard, Sara Reily,  Patricia B. Coppenger, Daniel Burns,  Haley Wamble, Mary Cile Glover-Rogers, Lorna Leigh Rogers, Merrill Dean Rogers. Mills leaves behind a host of great-grandchildren, Paylen Long, Micah, Hayden Anderson, Rylan Richard, Ridge Richard, Landon Reily, Addison Reily, Dout Wamble, J.D. Wamble, Tripp Riddell.

Pallbearers are John Alexander, David Reily, Rance Richard, DJ Perkins, and Al Smith. The honorary pallbearers will be the deacons of First Baptist Church Cleveland.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Cleveland Mississippi

Cleveland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. An online guest register may be signed at www.clevelandfuneralhome.net.