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Ann Rogers retires from child care

By Rose Hooper
Rogers After 23 years as a child care provider with Southwestern Child Development Commission, Barbara Ann Rogers starts retirement today (Thursday). One thing she said she will especially miss is "holding and rocking the babies," including 13-month-old Andrea Floyd. - Herald photo by Rose Hooper For Barbara Ann Rogers, today (Thursday) marks the beginning of a life with no alarm clocks ringing at 6 a.m., no little noses to wipe or diapers to change, no cries to quiet, no worrying about chicken pox and no going home exhausted, ready to drop.

After 23 years, yesterday (Aug. 15) was Rogers' last day on the job as a child care provider with Southwestern Child Development Center's Webster facility.

"I find the children pleasant and every day has been enjoyable," Rogers said of her longtime career. "I always wanted to work with children, so I applied for the job and got it. I've kept it all these years because it's exactly what I wanted to do."

"Ann's been the dependable one... always the first one here to open up and greet people," said co-worker Joy Hoyle. "She has patiently sang to, read to, changed, rocked to sleep, played with, wiped away tears and loved more babies than probably anybody in this county."

Rogers said she often sees 20-year-olds out and about, and they'll say, "Ms. Rogers, remember me?"

"Of course, I do," this Jackson County native replied affectionately. "I remember each and every one of them."

Although she never received any formal schooling for her position, Rogers is a natural, co-workers agree.

"I raised three children of my own ­ that's where I got my training," said this grandmother of nine. "I really enjoy watching children grow and how they develop."

"We all know that the first years are the most important ones," Hoyle said. "Ann, in her simple, quiet and nurturing way has helped prepare many youngsters for the rest of their lives. Those youngsters she has loved and raised are truly the blessed ones."

Supervisor Judi Whatley said, "Ann has been a solid, consistent part of this center since I can remember. No matter what comes up, you can count on Ann to just keep moving right along. She has a heartfelt love for children and makes parents feel good about where their precious children are during their work day."

Just like the parents, Rogers revels in each milestone ­ like the first time the babies crawl or pull themselves up or when they take their first step.

One of Rogers' duties has been teaching children how to eat. "I give them small, baby bites to start out with. When they are about seven months old, I start them on finger foods. It takes a while for them to be able to hold the food by themselves."

Her favorite part of the job was holding and rocking the babies "making them comfortable and giving them love."

The worst part of the job was when she would become attached to a baby and then it graduated to the toddler's room. "But I could still visit them," she added.

Rogers loved to sing songs with the children and play "push the poppers" and patty-cake. "We always had the best time blowing bubbles," she recalled.

"I haven't been broke since I've been here," Rogers said of her longtime career. "And I thank Sheila Hoyle (Southwestern Child Development executive director) for having me here all these years."

Now Rogers plans to do a bit of traveling. First stop will be Pontiac, Mich., where her children Pam Walker and Rodney Coleman live. She has another daughter, Teresa Scruggs, in Spartanburg, S.C. Then her next trip might be Hawaii or the Bahamas.

"I've always wanted to go to both places," said this daughter of the late Will and Estella Love Rogers. "Can you believe I was raised right by a river, but never learned to swim?"

"You've got plenty of time to learn now," Hoyle told her. "It's never too late."

Back to Archive: 08/16/01.