Ann Bates Rogers Clark, 72, of West Columbia, S. C. died Friday, March 20, 2020 at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Ann was raised in Logan County before moving to the Carolinas. She is preceded in death by her parents, Maurice Halliburton Rogers, Sr. and Miriam Eleanor Hipple Rogers, her eldest brother, Thaddeus Eugene “Sonny” Rogers, her sisters, Mary Eleanor Rogers Cain and Sarah Mason Rogers Smith and her niece, Miriam Harrell.
Ann is survived by her husband of 48 years, Herbert Wayne Clark; her son, Thaddeus James Clark (Melissa), her grandson, Thaddeus Wayne Clark; her daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Clark Back (Christopher), and her grandson, John Mason Back.
She is also survived by her brother, Maurice Halliburton "Buddy" Rogers, Jr. (Arlene) and their stepson –Mike; his sister-in-law, Carole Rogers of Adairville; her nephew William Burns Rogers; her brother-in-law, John E. Cain III, and nieces Mary Helfrich, Kate McKee, Lisa Voutes, Corinne Walser and Benji Rust; her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Ann Clark Warf, her nephew Dennis Warf and her niece Susie Morgan.
Ann graduated from Austin Peay State University in 1970 with a degree in elementary education. In 1998, she received a master’s degree from Columbia College in elementary education. Ann taught in Kentucky, North Carolina, and South Carolina schools, spending the majority of her career at Leaphart Elementary School in Columbia, S.C. and R. Earle Davis Elementary School in Cayce, S.C.
A born educator, Ann loved teaching and particularly enjoyed focusing her talents on those children who felt unloved or forgotten. In recognition of her compassion and dedication to her students, Ann was named “Teacher of the Year” at R. Earle Davis. Ann considered the success of her former students to be among her greatest accomplishments.
Ann was a fighter and an extremely determined lady, surviving nearly nine years with late stage non-small cell lung cancer. The Clark family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Wayne Hofstetter at MD Anderson.
Due to the funeral restrictions for the Coronavirus, a private funeral at Summers and Son Funeral Home and burial in Greenview Cemetery in Adairville will be held at a later time. You may watch the funeral service for Ann Bates Rogers Clark on our face book page at a later time.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to Dunn’s Chapel Church, 281 Chapel Rd., West Columbia, S.C. 29172.