Audrey Larsha

Obituary For Audrey Larsha

Audrey Irene Rogers was born on November 10, 1929, in Memphis, Tennessee, to the late Willie James Rogers Sr. and Viola K. Rogers. She was a member of Greer Chapel A.M.E. Church, and after the family moved to the Binghampton Community, at the age of 14, she joined New Tyler African Methodist Episcopal Church where she accepted Christ and remained a member for the past 80-plus years.

Audrey graduated from Manassas High School in 1948, and Grady Nursing School as a Registered Nurse, in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1951. Her nursing career covered Detroit, Michigan, Sacramento, California, and Memphis, Tennessee, where she retired from the VA Hospital. She remained active as a member of VA Retired Nurses Association/VANA.

In the A.M.E. Church she was a Life Member of the Women Missionary Society, served as President of the Mamie Ward Missionary Society in her local church, First Vice-President of the Conference Missionary Society and Chaired District Nominating Committee. She served as a Sunday School Teacher, a Steward, member of the Local and Conference Lay Organization and President of the Committed Organization (a group of senior women whose main goal was to support the church). Audrey served as a Stewardess for many years, and in October of 2023, she was consecrated to the Office of Deaconess. Her community involvement included The AARP Chapter 2443, The American Red Cross, Church Women United, Les-Gladores Club which comprised of a group of progressive Black Nurses, the Memphis Health Center and a member of the Vollintine Evergreen Community Association where she lived for over 50 years.

After a Breast Cancer diagnosis in 1990, she volunteered for the American Cancer Society “Reach To Recovery” program where she made hospital visits to patients after mastectomy surgery counseling and praying for them and their families. From there, she joined the first Black Breast Cancer Education & Support Group in Memphis called, Carin’ and Sharin,’ that is still active today. After attending a Cancer Survivor’s camp called Camp Bluebird, she encouraged all Breast Cancer survivors to attend the all-expenses paid camp, which was held twice a year. Camp Bluebird honored and loved the survivors and she was a yearly participant through 2023.

Always a nurturing spirit, she mentored, prayed and encouraged Ministers as well as lay persons across the AME Church. She saw after the Elders, including Ms. Polk, a former First Lady at New Tyler, and she also took care of the sick and shut-in, never leaving or forsaking them. An advocate for Health and Wellness, including Weight Management, she taught, encouraged and lived a healthy lifestyle, surviving cancer two times. Walking was a favorite exercise along with her beloved next-door neighbor, Mrs. Eva Turner, where they walked three miles at Ed Rice Park every weekday for years and also in the VECA community where they lived.

The last of five siblings, she was preceded in death by her sisters, James Ella Rogers, Maria Elliott, and Rutha Pegues; her brother, Willie James Rogers, Jr.; two nieces, Monica Myers Wade and Diane Williams Pegues; a great-niece, Amber Nicole Phillips; three nephews, Carl Anthony Pegues, Keith DeWayne Pettigrew, and Joseph Ezra Pegues, Jr; a sister-in-law, Betty Elizabeth Larsha; and her brothers-in-law, Joseph Ezra Pegues, Sr. and Charlie Elliott.

Married to the love of her life, William Larsha, Sr., for 53 years at the time of his passing, she leaves two daughters, Rochelle R. Pirtle and Katherine A. Larsha; one son, William Larsha Jr., Esq.; a loving daughter-in-law, April Larsha; two grandchildren, Alonzo S. Pirtle and Audrey R. Pirtle; three great-grandsons, Ashton Jordan, Ethan Noah Brown and Justin Terrell Jones; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Virginia Rogers; a special niece, Marynell Ransom Ratliff; special daughters, Sharon McIntyre, Gwen Fugh Dillihunt and Mondella Woods; her dearest neighbor, Mrs. Eva Turner; close friend, Ms. Annabelle Fritz; extended families, The Sims, Washington and McDonald/Price/Rice families; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

The family will receive friends Thursday, March 14, 2024 from 4:00pm-6:00pm at RS Lewis & Sons 3651 Austin Peay Hwy, Memphis, TN 38128. Celebration of Life will be Friday, March 15, 2024 11:00am at New Tyler AME Church 3300 Summer Ave, Memphis, TN 38122.

Interment will be in West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery, 4000 Forest Hill Irene Road, Memphis, TN 38125.

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