After seven years at First Baptist Church, Pacolet, and 50 years as a minister of music, Carl Rogers retired Feb. 22.
Carl and Mary Rogers were honored Feb. 22 when Carl retired after 50 years as a minister of music. Shannon Gault, right, chairman of deacons at Pacolet First Baptist Church, presents the couple with a gift from the church.In addition to Pacolet First Baptist, Rogers served nine other churches in the Spartanburg area during his ministry.
Rogers started singing as a first-grader when he and a friend, Ned Wilder, went from room to room, entertaining their classmates. In his teen years, Rogers discovered the joy of Southern gospel music and sang with several local groups.
At 19, he dedicated his life and voice to serving God and led music at two churches for a short time. He and a friend, Johnny Lark, joined up and formed the Dual Tones. They sang together several years until Rogers answered a call to become a church music director.
Rogers and his wife, Mary, met at Arkwright Baptist Church during a revival and were married in 1951. Today, they continue to sing together at churches and senior adult meetings.