GARY A. ROGERS Retired Wilkes County Sheriff Gary A. Rogers, 57, passed away at his home Friday, July 31, after an extended battle with diabetes.

A long procession of blue lights escorted Sheriff Rogers to his final resting place as scores of law enforcement personnel and firefighters from Wilkes County and surrounding counties led the funeral procession Tuesday morning to graveside services at Washington-Wilkes Memorial Gardens.

Rogers served as Sheriff of Wilkes County from 2000 to 2008, and struggled with declining health for the last year of his tenure. His fellow law officers, friends, and neighbors rallied to his support, holding fundraisers and visiting him to keep his spirits up.

Obituary information is on page 2A.