Mary Claudia Rogerson

COLUMBIA - Services for Mary Claudia Smith Rogerson, 100, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 26, 2014, at Boyce Chapel, First Baptist Church, Columbia, with burial in Greenlawn Memorial Park. Before the service, the family will receive friends beginning at 12:30 at the church. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family. Mrs. Rogerson died Monday, July 21, 2014. Born in Chesnee, South Carolina, on May 19, 1914, she was the daughter of the late Claude Ozier Smith and Harriett Lois Finley Smith. She was educated in Landrum and graduated from Winthrop College, where she was active in BSU. Upon graduation, she taught school in Olar, where she met Lexious Algernon (L.A.) Rogerson. They married in 1937 and shared an exceptional marriage of 63 years. They lived many years in Darlington, where all of her children were born. The family moved to Columbia in 1956. Mary was an active member of First Baptist Church, where she was president of WMU and was instrumental in establishing the international student program. She and L.A. helped found Columbia Council for Internationals and served on its board for many years. She was a consultant for the National Association for Foreign Student Affairs, travelling to colleges and universities across the country to establish cooperative and host family programs for international students. She was awarded a lifetime honorary membership in NAFSA. In May, she celebrated her 100th birthday with the family. Predeceased by her husband L.A., Mary is survived by her children, Nancy Schmeing of Deep River, Ontario, Canada, Bette Auld (Fred) of Columbia, Mary Ellen Rogerson (Dan Dworkin) of Columbus, N.C., and Lex Rogerson (Shirley Vickery) of Lexington. Her grandchildren include Claudia Sgro (Sam), Martin Schmeing, Caroline Schmeing, Beth Auld Thrailkill (Christopher), Trey Auld (Annette), Ellen Rogerson, and Annie Rogerson. Great-grandchildren include Katherine Sgro, Erica Sgro, Katharine Smith, Mary Alex Smith, Jackson Thrailkill, Dru Auld, Lex Auld, and Mary Delle Auld. She is survived by her sister, Bunny Beatson of Tryon, N.C., and was predeceased by sisters, Ethnie Smith, Delle Beatson and Fran Suttle; brothers, Broadus Smith, J.W. Smith, Bob Smith and Claud Smith; and daughter Harriett Rogerson. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Columbia Council for Internationals or First Baptist Church of Columbia. The family would like to thank Nicole Belin and Gloria Wright for their care and attentiveness.