Charleston, MS
Funeral Home
Newsom Funeral Home
Visitation
5 – 8 p.m., Friday, July 10, 2026, Newsom Funeral Home.
Service
11 a.m., Saturday, July 11, 2026, Newsom Funeral Home.
Obituary
Look Military Service Tribute, Honors, and Obituary:
Recognizing and Honoring a Fallen Hero who Served in the Mississippi National Guard. “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten.” In recognition of our proud American tradition of honorable service, which our military men and women have given to their country and our state, we honor a Fallen Hero. Our nation, our state, and the National Guard Association of MS (NGAMS) regard memorializing its retired military deceased as an honorable and sacred obligation. Another great Soldier and Fallen Hero has been released from duty, passed from our ranks on July 7, 2026, and has moved on to his heavenly home. Retired Staff Sergeant Claude Wesley Rodgers, age 77, Charleston, MS, who served in the 223rd Engineer Battalion has departed and gone to a better place with our Lord and Savior.
It takes a special person to serve in the military for their country, sacrificing time with family time, comfort, and safety to ensure all Americans can enjoy their freedoms, safety, and way of life. We now applaud you for your service to our country.
A special message from General Douglas MacArthur remains relevant today for our servicemen who have passed: “Old Soldiers never die; they just fade away.” Rest in peace, soldier. We honor your patriotism, sacrifices, and brave efforts in serving our country and your family’s support of your service. We thank you for your service. Without your efforts and your families’ support, our country would not stand so boldly, shine so brightly, and live so freely.
You have now earned your rest, so go fly with the angels, go rest high on that mountain; your work on earth is complete. Go to heaven a-shoutin’ love for the Father and the Son.
Another great soldier has gone home—“Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten, Soldier for Life.”
Obituary, Visitation, and Service Details:
Claude Wesley Rodgers, 77, passed away Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, MS. He was a former member of the Mississippi National Guard. He loved fishing, and spending time with his grandkids.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Sally Rodgers. Survivors include his daughters, Misty Richardson (Jason) of Grenada, Kristy Whitfield (Billy) of Holcomb, Lisa Rodgers of Charleston; son, Donald Rodgers of Charleston; sisters, Evelyn McKay of Senatobia, Linder Bond (Kip) of Oxford; brother, Charles Rodgers (Bobbie) of Batesville; grandchildren, Cade Whitfield (Hallie), Ashton Griffin (Culley), Cole Richardson, Aiden Richardson.
The family will receive friends from 5 until 8 p.m. Friday, July 10, 2026, at Newsom Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, July 11, 2026, at Newsom Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Magnolia Gardens Cemetery.