Eva E. Rogers

EVA ELAINE ROGERS (Nee Winegan), the eldest child of the late Reverend Allen A. Winegan and the late Eva Lee Winegan(nee Liggins), was born on July 22, 1933. She departed from this earthly realm on April 21, 2016, at the Washington Adventist Hospital, Takoma Park, Maryland.

'Elaine' as she was affectionately known to all, received her formal education at Dunbar Elementary/Junior High School. She graduated from the Dunbar Senior High School in February 1953.

Elaine's work career for many years was devoted to child day care services at the John Wsley United Methodist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.

She was baptized at Waters A.M.E. Church by the late Rev. Harvey E. Walden, Sr. As a child she attended Waters and was active in the A.C.E. League and the Sunday School. She also played for the Junior Choir under the direction of the late Ms. Evelyn Trusty.

At an early age, her mother discovered that she had been blessed with a musical gift and she began taking piano lessons. She studied with the late Mrs. Emma Poulson and the late Mrs. Lucille Marcus Brooks. She attended many workshops and classes to enhance her musical skills, specifically on the Hammond Organ. Because music was a great part of her life, Elaine dedicated her entire life to worshipping God through her gift of music. She enjoyed the hymns, anthems and especially classic gospel. At the age of 19 she began serving as musician at the Greater St. John Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. Dr. David B. Banks and remained under the pastorates of the late Rev. Joseph L. Hinton and Rev. Arthur J. Benn.

Because she played for so many years in the Baptist Faith, she decided to convert from African Methodism to the Baptist Faith and joined the Greater St. John Baptist Church. In addition to her playing, she also shared in the services with her beautiful, melodious, soprano voice.

She retired after forty-one years of service as organist there, under the pastorate of the Rev. Joseph E. Lewis. She transferred her membership to join her husband at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Turner Station and was organist there until her health began to decline.

She further shared her musical gift with, to name a few, Gateville A.M.E. Church, First Baptist Church, Essex United Methodist Church, Shiloh Baptist Church, Edgemere, Md., and St. Stephens A.M.E. Church. She additionally played for many services at some of the local funeral establishments in Baltimore City.

Elaine was a quiet-spoken, humble person, who always greeted one with her beautiful smile. She formed wonderful, lasting, lifetime relationships wherever she went and with whomever she met. She was basically loved by everyone. To know her, truly, was to love her.

Elaine was united in holy matrimony to Henry Reginald Belt, who preceded her in death on June 7, 1965. She later met and married David Rogers, Sr., and from this union was born one son, Markus Anthony Rogers.

Elaine was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, the late Charles B. and the late Anthony W. Winegan; two sisters, the late Ruth Barbara Jenkins and Madeline Winegan; three stepsons, David, Jr., Keith and Dwayne Rogers; and one stepdaughter, Dora Rhodes.

She leaves to mourn their loss: her husband, David Rogers, Sr., her son, Markus A. Rogers(Angella); three stepdaughters, Flora, Martha and Jean Rogers; one stepson, Calvin Rogers; twelve grandchildren, great-grandchildren; two sisters, Eloise M. Sutton, Carolyn W. Franklin(James); one brother, Norman A. Winegan; two sisters-in-law, Josephine Scott and Joyce Winegan, all of Baltimore, MD; one brother-in-law, Hildler D. Jenkins of Reading, PA; a devoted goddaughter,Jeanette(Lisa) Wilson; four special cousins, Shirley Thomas, Thelma Hawkes, Helen Cunion and Donald Tynes, Sr.; two special friends, Ruth Lewis and Edna Jones; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.