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Charlotte Rogers Smith of Water Mill died on December 14. She was 95.
Born on May 18, 1919, to Henry Halsey Fordham and Charlotte Post Fordham, she grew up in Southampton. A pianist from an early age, she often accompanied choirs and soloists in her church, school and community. In 1941, she graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Science from the school of education, majoring in piano and organ.
In 1942, she married Harold Hildreth Rogers, a farmer from Water Mill. They moved into a historic home on the farm, where she began giving private piano lessons. Her teaching career spanned 50 years, during which time she continued to study with organists in New York and Philadelphia. Her love, knowledge and appreciation of music were shared with a great many students, several of whom have gained national recognition. The same year she married, she also became the organist and choir director for the Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church, a position she would hold for more than 40 years. In 1946, she led her 18-voice choir in a performance of the oratorio “The Holy City.” This was the inception of today’s Choral Society of the Hamptons, which grew and flourished under her guidance and continues today, 68 years later.
After the death of her husband, she married Dinwiddie Smith in 1985.
Ms. Smith was predeceased by her two husbands; a sister, Helen; brothers, Henry and Paul; and a son-in-law, George Grun. She is survived by four children, James Hildreth Rogers and wife Phyllis, Ann Rogers Morgan and husband Michael, Paul Fordham Rogers and wife Kathleen, and Susan Rogers Grun; six grandchildren, Deborah Rettew and husband John, Samuel Rogers and wife Hilary, Phebe Rogers, Katharine Rogers, and Elizabeth and Alexander Grun; and three great-grandchildren, Morgan and Madeline Rettew, and Ariella Rogers.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2015, at 2 p.m. at Southampton Presbyterian Church.
Memorial donations may be made to the Choral Society of the Hamptons, P.O. Box 1031, Bridgehampton, NY 11932, or the East End Special Players, 1514 Montauk Highway, Water Mill, NY 11976, or a charity of choice.
on Dec 22, 2014