Sammie Burgess Rodden

Sammie Burgess Rodden was born on November 22, 1932, in the Monticello Community near Epps, Louisiana, to Lindsey Jeff Burgess and Inez King Burgess. Raised in a large Southern family, she grew into a determined, capable, and warmly traditional woman whose strength and hospitality shaped every chapter of her life.

She was a woman of deep faith and prayer. Her well-worn Bible holds pages of highlighted Scripture and hand-written prayer lists where she interceded daily for family, friends, and neighbors. Her quiet, steadfast devotion was one of the defining lights of her life.

Sammie loved to cook, especially pies, and her kitchen was often the gathering place where she welcomed others with generosity and good food. She spent many years working in the construction equipment division of Scott Truck and Tractor in Monroe. Later, with characteristic grit and independence, she built a business of her own in remodeling, home construction, and building supplies.

In her later years, Sammie discovered a new joy in bird watching. She and her husband, Bill, attended fall and spring birding meetings along the Louisiana coast, sharing a love for the beauty and movement of migration. She served as treasurer of the Louisiana Ornithological Society in the early 1990s, bringing her practicality and attention to detail to a community she cherished.

During her final years, Sammie made a deep impression on the caregivers and staff of Regency Park Place, who spoke often of her Southern manners, resilience, and unmistakable spirit. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Sammie was preceded in death by her husband, William E.“Bill” Rodden; her brother, Denwell Burgess; and her sisters, Blanche Bullock and Barbara Russell.

She is survived by her daughter, Tara Rodden Robinson, and son-in-law Douglas Robinson; her sisters Dorothy Rodden, Katie Deen, and Derona Mahan; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Louisiana Ornithological Society.

She prayed faithfully for others throughout her life; now we entrust her to God’s unfailing care.