Roger L’Don Moore, 77, passed away Tuesday, May 23, 2023, surrounded by his beloved family holding his hands. Visitation will be Saturday, May 27, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Morrison Funeral Home, Tuscumbia. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 28 at Calvary Baptist Church, Tuscumbia with Seth Hood officiating. He will lie in state from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. at the church. Interment will be in Colbert Memorial Gardens with Larry Smart and Mike Rogers officiating.
Roger was a native of Fayette, Alabama. He graduated from Lamar County High School in 1963. After high school, Roger completed barber school at Shelton State and began cutting hair on the weekends at Jimmy’s Barber Shop in Vernon, Alabama, using the income he earned from barbering to pay for his education at Florence State College. He graduated with a BS degree in Physical Education and Biology, and then began a life-long career in education where he touched the lives of so many. Roger served in many roles in the Colbert County School System, including teacher, coach, athletic director, and principal. He coached football, basketball, baseball, and track throughout his career. He loved sports of all kinds, but football was his favorite. He loved being “Coach” to his Colbert Heights Wildcats football players, and he remembered every score to every game he ever coached. He helped lead the 1975-76 Wildcat Basketball team to a 2-A State Championship. He was elected Superintendent of Education for the Colbert County School System in 1984 and served 16 years in this position. After his retirement from Colbert County, he served 9 years as principal at Burnsville Elementary School in Mississippi. Upon retiring in Mississippi, Roger became a student-teacher supervisor at Athens State University, continuing to mentor young teachers beginning their careers.
Roger also spent a part of his life raising Santa Gertrudis Cattle, being part owner of C & M Farms. He was a member of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, Colbert County Cattlemen’s Association, and a charter member of the Lamar County Santa Gertrudis Breeders’ Association.
Roger also loved music. In the 1960s, Roger played in a rock and roll band, “Big Ben” Atkins and the Nomads. Later, he sang tenor and played bass guitar with gospel groups “Glory Bound” and “River Jordan”.
Roger was a faithful Christian, serving at Calvary Baptist Church in Tuscumbia, where he was a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and choir member for many years. He was a member of the Gideons International, and he was also a Mason. Roger had a great love for all people and was always willing to serve others.
Preceding Roger in death were his parents, William Arlington and Trannie Price Moore, and nine siblings. He is survived by his high-school sweetheart and wife of 58 years, Mary “Bitsey” Moore; children, Jennifer Moore Buckner and her husband Tommy, Jonathan Moore and his wife Gina; foster son, Jeff Elledge and his wife Lisa; grandchildren, Kierstan, Lauren, Brayden, and Landon Buckner, and Greyson, Ellyn, and Madelyn Moore; foster grandchildren, Tiffany Stewart and Kelly Pucket and their families; numerous nieces and nephews; and an abundance of former employees, students, church family, and precious friends.
Pallbearers will be grandsons, Brayden Buckner, Landon Buckner, and Grey Moore, and special friends, LeRoy WIllis, Robert Lee, and Bobby Lewis. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jack and Jerry Batts, Lance Heavener, and the deacons of Calvary Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Roger’s memory can be made to Calvary Baptist Church, Tuscumbia (calvarybaptisttuscumbia.com), Gideons International (gideons.org), or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org).
An online guest registry is available at www.morisonfuneralhomes.com.
