Martin Earle Rogers

Martin Earle Rogers, known fondly as Marty to his friends and family, passed away on March 27, 2024,
in his hometown of Greenville, South Carolina, where he was born on November 5, 1954. His journey
through life was one filled with the joy of family, the excitement of football, and “stories from long, long
ago.”
Marty's early years in Greenville laid the foundation for his life. He was a proud graduate of one of the
very first graduating classes of Southside High School and then went on to the University of Tennessee
for brief study. Marty's career in the trucking industry gave him stories to share for several decades. He
was always proud to tell stories of working for and with his father in the family business.
Family was the cornerstone of Marty's world. He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, James
Martin Rogers and Ruby Riddle Rogers, as well as his cherished wife, JoAnn. He is survived by his sister,
Jimmie Lou Vaughn (Steve); his daughters, Caroline Eshleman and Amanda Rogers; his son, James "JJ"
Rogers (Amanda K.B.); and his adored grandchildren, Emmalynne Eshleman, Artemis Eshleman, and
Jacob Eshleman. Each family member held a special place in Marty's heart, and he took immense pride
in their accomplishments and happiness.
A spirited soul, Marty never missed an opportunity to engage in or dream about his passions. He was an
avid fan of college football, with a particular fondness for the University of Tennessee and any team that
had the good fortune of beating Clemson. His love for the game was infectious, and many will recall his
animated commentaries during the football season. While most can give player statistics, Marty could
tell stories for hours about the coaching staff, their contracts, the teams they had coached in the past
and aspired to coach in the future. Marty also had a life-long love of Jimmy Buffet, participating as a
member of the Upstate Parrot Head Club and going to concerts when possible. In quieter times, he
could be found engrossed in old movies, reliving the classic tales of yesteryear.
All who had the pleasure of crossing his path will remember Marty’s charming ability to strike up a
conversation with anyone he met. The friendships he made and the stories he told live on in us. He was
the kind of man that could light up a room with his presence, bringing laughter and a good story to even
the most mundane of days “People loved to see him come, and they were sad to see him go”. Marty
really believed that “if we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane.”
As we say farewell to Martin Earle Rogers, we celebrate his life remembering the love,
laughter, and lasting memories. Marty's spirit will continue to inspire those who knew him, and his
stories will be told for generations to come. Though he has left this earth, the imprint he made on the
hearts of his family and friends will never fade. “If there’s a heaven for me, I’m sure it has a beach
attached,” and as his family we truly hope he finds peace on his beach.
In honoring Marty's memory, we remember that although he never “went to Paris, he was always
looking for answers to questions that bothered him so.” He was a remarkable man who will be deeply
missed but never forgotten. Rest in peace, dear Marty; your journey may have ended, but your legacy
lives on. If we could ask him now about his life, we hope he would be able to smile, then say "Jimmy,
some of it's magic, some of it's tragic But I had a good life all the way.”*