RICHMOND, Va. — Phillip E. Rodgerson, long-time director of missions and evangelism for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, died Friday morning, June 10, just two weeks shy of his 88th birthday.
A native of Norfolk, Va., Rodgerson earned bachelor of divinity, master of theology and doctor of philosophy degrees from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., while serving as pastor of churches in Kentucky.
In 1953, he was called to be pastor of Bon Air Baptist Chapel, a new church plant meeting in a Richmond, Va., school. He remained pastor of Bon Air Baptist Church for 13 years.
Rodgerson served on the staff of the VBMB from 1966 until his retirement in 1993. He was among the first to do strategic planning with the aid of demographic studies.
Rodgerson is survived by his wife, Bernice; four adult children, Phyllis Rodgerson Pleasants of Richmond, Thomas Rodgerson of Silver Spring, Md., Ruth Ann Hess of Washington, D.C. and Richard Rodgerson of Finksburg, Md.; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandsons.
A graveside service was held privately, and a celebration of life service is being planned.