Pamela Rogers Freeman
August 4, 1944 — January 18, 2024
Pamela Rogers Freeman
August 4, 1944 - January 18, 2024
Pamela Rogers Freeman, of Jacksonville, Florida, passed away peacefully on Thursday,
January 18, 2024. The eldest of five girls, she was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on August
4, 1944 to Jerrel and Betty (Betta Jo) Rogers.
Growing up in a military family, Pam and her sisters lived in many places, including Texas and
Hawaii, before settling in Vacaville, CA. It was in Vacaville that Pam became involved in the
Rainbow Girls, an organization dedicated to community service and leadership, and served as
Worthy Advisor, with many of her mentees noting her innate ability to lead and guide them into
officer roles. It was her first experience in what would become a lifelong passion for civic
engagement.
Pam moved to Sacramento, CA to attend Sacramento Community College where she received
an Associate of Arts degree in 1967. It was in Sacramento that she met Jud Freeman, and they
married on August 10, 1968. She briefly returned to military life while Jud was serving in the Air
Force, after which, the couple moved to Birmingham, Alabama for Jud to attend law school.
Pam and Jud settled in Jacksonville, Florida in 1973.
Pam was always heavily involved in her community, whether it was in the role of bookkeeper,
telephone operator, substitute teacher, retail associate or volunteer. Forever leading with
kindness and generosity, she devoted over 25 years of her life serving Jacksonville: She was
the Junior Women's Club President from 1976-1980, winning numerous awards in that role;
President of the Jacksonville Bar Association Auxiliary (1977-1978); Board Member of the
Museum of Science & History (MOSH), (1980-1981) and Board Member of Volunteer
Jacksonville Inc (1982-1985). Pam joined the Junior League of Jacksonville in 1979 and
remained a sustainer, serving as Chairman and Co-Chairman of many committees over the
years, including Ways & Means, Provisional, Community Research and Education & Training.
As education and continued learning were paramount to Pam, it is no surprise that she is
perhaps best remembered for her countless volunteer roles at her daughters' schools.
Celebrated as the "Party Queen," during her reign as Class Mom from 1980 - 1994, she also
served as a Board Member for St. Mark's Episcopal Day School from 1983-1986, Book Fair
Chairman from 1987-1989, and helped plan countless school sponsored events. She continued
to serve on the Episcopal School of Jacksonville's Auction and Dinner committee from 1986-
2000.
The only role that took precedence over Pam's service was that of a mother and caregiver. Pam
was devoted to her children, their friends, and in time, their spouses and their dogs. She was
the best Mimi to her beloved grandson. It was so important to Pam that everyone felt welcomed
in her home, and the fact that her house was always buzzing with neighborhood friends and
children is a reflection of that warmth. As any of those lucky enough to have been there will tell
you, her kitchen was always stocked with the "best" snacks; each and every holiday was
celebrated with decorations and party favors - no detail too small - to create a magical
experience for everyone. She never forgot a birthday, and always had the perfect gift for the
occasion. In her earlier days as President of the Junior Women's Club, Pam discovered a
saying that would become a mantra: "Caring and Sharing are the Secrets of Living." Nobody
embodied this sentiment more.
Pam is preceded in death by her parents, Jerrel Dean and Betty (Betta Jo) Rogers, and her
sisters Gail Kill and Beverly Patton.
She is survived by her loving daughters Cara Bowyer and Crista Freeman; her son-in-law Jason
Bowyer and daughter-in-law Annabelle Saks; her grandson Wright Bowyer; her sisters Debra
Moore and Denise Rogers; and so many close friends whom she considered family.
A service to celebrate her life will be held on Thursday, February 15, at 10:00am at St. Mark's
Episcopal Church. The service will be live-streamed and available for viewing on the St. Mark's
website by clicking HERE. A reception will follow in Leatherbury Hall.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in loving memory of Pam may be made to Episcopal School of
Jacksonville, supporting need-based financial aid for qualifying students or Community Hospice
& Palliative Care.
August 4, 1944 - January 18, 2024
Pamela Rogers Freeman, of Jacksonville, Florida, passed away peacefully on Thursday,
January 18, 2024. The eldest of five girls, she was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on August
4, 1944 to Jerrel and Betty (Betta Jo) Rogers.
Growing up in a military family, Pam and her sisters lived in many places, including Texas and
Hawaii, before settling in Vacaville, CA. It was in Vacaville that Pam became involved in the
Rainbow Girls, an organization dedicated to community service and leadership, and served as
Worthy Advisor, with many of her mentees noting her innate ability to lead and guide them into
officer roles. It was her first experience in what would become a lifelong passion for civic
engagement.
Pam moved to Sacramento, CA to attend Sacramento Community College where she received
an Associate of Arts degree in 1967. It was in Sacramento that she met Jud Freeman, and they
married on August 10, 1968. She briefly returned to military life while Jud was serving in the Air
Force, after which, the couple moved to Birmingham, Alabama for Jud to attend law school.
Pam and Jud settled in Jacksonville, Florida in 1973.
Pam was always heavily involved in her community, whether it was in the role of bookkeeper,
telephone operator, substitute teacher, retail associate or volunteer. Forever leading with
kindness and generosity, she devoted over 25 years of her life serving Jacksonville: She was
the Junior Women's Club President from 1976-1980, winning numerous awards in that role;
President of the Jacksonville Bar Association Auxiliary (1977-1978); Board Member of the
Museum of Science & History (MOSH), (1980-1981) and Board Member of Volunteer
Jacksonville Inc (1982-1985). Pam joined the Junior League of Jacksonville in 1979 and
remained a sustainer, serving as Chairman and Co-Chairman of many committees over the
years, including Ways & Means, Provisional, Community Research and Education & Training.
As education and continued learning were paramount to Pam, it is no surprise that she is
perhaps best remembered for her countless volunteer roles at her daughters' schools.
Celebrated as the "Party Queen," during her reign as Class Mom from 1980 - 1994, she also
served as a Board Member for St. Mark's Episcopal Day School from 1983-1986, Book Fair
Chairman from 1987-1989, and helped plan countless school sponsored events. She continued
to serve on the Episcopal School of Jacksonville's Auction and Dinner committee from 1986-
2000.
The only role that took precedence over Pam's service was that of a mother and caregiver. Pam
was devoted to her children, their friends, and in time, their spouses and their dogs. She was
the best Mimi to her beloved grandson. It was so important to Pam that everyone felt welcomed
in her home, and the fact that her house was always buzzing with neighborhood friends and
children is a reflection of that warmth. As any of those lucky enough to have been there will tell
you, her kitchen was always stocked with the "best" snacks; each and every holiday was
celebrated with decorations and party favors - no detail too small - to create a magical
experience for everyone. She never forgot a birthday, and always had the perfect gift for the
occasion. In her earlier days as President of the Junior Women's Club, Pam discovered a
saying that would become a mantra: "Caring and Sharing are the Secrets of Living." Nobody
embodied this sentiment more.
Pam is preceded in death by her parents, Jerrel Dean and Betty (Betta Jo) Rogers, and her
sisters Gail Kill and Beverly Patton.
She is survived by her loving daughters Cara Bowyer and Crista Freeman; her son-in-law Jason
Bowyer and daughter-in-law Annabelle Saks; her grandson Wright Bowyer; her sisters Debra
Moore and Denise Rogers; and so many close friends whom she considered family.
A service to celebrate her life will be held on Thursday, February 15, at 10:00am at St. Mark's
Episcopal Church. The service will be live-streamed and available for viewing on the St. Mark's
website by clicking HERE. A reception will follow in Leatherbury Hall.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in loving memory of Pam may be made to Episcopal School of
Jacksonville, supporting need-based financial aid for qualifying students or Community Hospice
& Palliative Care.
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