I Spoke at Chris Rogers' Funeral

(This is the photo animation 16 aired when Chris passed away last week)

One of the hardest things I've ever done was speaking at Chris' funeral on behalf of co-workers. His funeral was such an outpouring of love and appreciation for the way he touched lives. Aldersgate U.M. church was packed. People stood in the hall and overflow room just to attend.

Here's the story/speech I wrote after speaking to and getting e-mails from folks who worked with and loved Chris:

There are people here who’ve known and worked with Chris Rogers much longer than me. I met him in 2002 when I moved to Jackson to work for 16. But whether you knew him for 50 years or 5 minutes your impressions would be the same.

If you worked with Chris Rogers, you heart broke into a million pieces last week when you heard he passed away. You stopped for a second, a minute or an hour and thought – not Chris, not my friend, not my buddy, not him! He was too young, too energetic, too funny. I still need him. He can’t be gone.

If you worked with Chris Rogers - you got your feelings hurt. Not in a bad way but if your stuff wasn’t good or up to par – he told you. He was a teacher, instructor, professor, trainer and mentor. If you were doing something wrong with your camera, your story, a tape or a deck – he could make it right. He practically wrote your package for you with the video he shot. Chris knew so many people he could tell you who to interview, where to find them, where they ate lunch, where they went to school, who they used to be married to and who they were currently dating! Chris kept his ear to the streets and he knew what was going on in the hood.

If you worked with Chris Rogers, he was happy for you when you got promoted. And if you didn’t get promoted, he could tell you why not! Chris would edit your resume tape, make a million dubs and not take a penny of your money. Chris just wanted to see you succeed – maybe because he was happy enough just to know he had something to do with it. He probably served as a reference for a job. If you were new - Chris introduced you to people, taught you how to get around, told you the names of neighborhoods, and how to pronounce the names of towns in Mississippi. You probably worked with Chris at one station, then ya’ll ended up at another station at the same time! He gave you advice; took you under his wing, and treated you like gold!

People who worked with Chris told me they had nicknames for each other: Cornbread, Shawty, C Rog, Spike for Spike Lee just to name a few. Or he called you – HIS anchor; HIS reporter – that’s how you knew you had made it.

At work, Chris never complained, especially when he wasn’t feeling well. He was a perfectionist with his video and editing. He stayed late, got up early, and was dependable. Chris probably saved you from making a fool of yourself on more than one occasion. If he was on a story with you, you knew he covered all the bases and the final product would be stellar.

Chris greeted everyone with a smile or a story that made them laugh. If he ever interviewed you – it was memorable. He knew how to put little kids and nervous folks at ease. His camera was not just a tool, it was an extension of Chris’ expertise and he was a master of photography. And that man always had a disposable Kodak handy!

If you worked with Chris Rogers, left Jackson, and then came back for a visit – he was on your MUST SEE list. You needed another laugh, to see his smile, and for him to catch you up on the “at work” gossip since you left.

If you worked with Chris Rogers, you were never hungry. He either brought you leftovers from home or a restaurant where he worked. I can still taste his barbeque. And don’t tell him what you were making at home – because that meant you had to bring him some. But you were torn and so was he – on what he should or should not eat. And he knew he couldn’t lie to his doctor because he’s a fraternity brother. Chris shared everything; his food, his Extra sugar free gum, his knowledge.

If you worked with Chris Rogers, everyday was a party. Work just wasn’t about work. Don’t think my friend wasn’t serious. He was just seriously crazy. The Ultimate Chris Rogers experience – was partying at Christoff’s house – in the backyard, in the garage, in the street. Chicken wings were on the main course. The chance to party, dance, and laugh with Chris – was the dessert. Chris was the perpetual LIFE OF THE PARTY and made sure anyone he met – had a good time. Your friends would ask you, “When’s the next Chris Rogers’ party?” because they were legendary.

If you worked with Chris Rogers, he told you many stories. About growing up and moving around as his dad, Dr. Rogers pursued his career, moving from university to university, and church to church. And Chris told you about working at TV stations across the country, who he met, who he worked with and who’s now gone on to bigger and better things. Chris told you about mistakes he’d made, his success and lessons he learned. But some things were secret. His rule: what happens between a photog and a reporter in the news car – stays between a photog and a reporter in a news car.

If you worked with Chris Rogers, you worked with a grown man…who was really a big kid. But he was also your “dad away from home” or the dad you never had….Chris may have let you borrow his truck or a few dollars if you were a little financially challenged. If you were having a bad day, Chris had a joke. No – not just one joke. A day of jokes; a whole newscast where he kept everyone laughing on headsets and in the studio. People who worked with Chris called him “trooper”, their uncle, their brother. He WAS family. Chris was your road dog, your go-to guy, your ace!

If you worked with Chris Rogers, you knew he was a PROUD OMEGA MAN. You heard stories of his days at Tougaloo and kicking it with his bruhs! You saw him dressed in full OMEGA MAN attire. Purple hat, purple t-shirt, purple sweatpants, purple handkerchief on down!

If you worked with Chris Rogers, just the site of his red pickup truck with all the bumper stickers made you smile. You will never be the same now that he’s gone. He touched you, he taught you, he fed you, he laughed AT you and WITH you.

I worked with Chris Rogers and I am a better journalist, a better person, a better daughter and friend – because of him. I can’t believe the last time I saw him - was THE LAST TIME I would ever see him. But I know Chris is no longer frustrated by the limitations he’s had on his body the last few years.

Be comforted knowing that you co-worker, Chris Rogers, doesn’t have any more surgeries or sickness ahead.

And remember that Chris Rogers, more than anything else, was LARGER THAN LIFE.