NewTown Macon president, CEO Josh Rogers dies at 42

Josh Rogers, a dynamic community leader who played a pivotal role in downtown Macon’s revitalization, died suddenly while running Sunday. He was 42.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 2 in Willingham Hall’s Toney Auditorium at Mercer University.

Rogers, born in Waycross, attended Mercer University and was a member of the Student Government Association, graduating in 2005. He began volunteering at NewTown Macon, became an intern and then a full-time staffer.

After studying historic preservation in England on a Rotary International Scholarship, Rogers worked on the College Hill Corridor neighborhood revitalization project, at the City of Macon and then was named executive director of Historic Macon, all before he was 30. After five years and a stint at the Historic Hills and Heights Development Corporation, he returned to NewTown and became the organization’s president and CEO.

“Josh Rogers’ outstanding leadership of NewTown Macon has been a major factor in the amazing revitalization of downtown Macon over the past decade,” NewTown board chair and Mercer University President William D. Underwood said. “I am so proud of what he has accomplished. His untimely death is a shock to all of us who knew and worked with him through the years. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Meaghan, his children, Jack and Ellie, and the rest of his family.”

Under Rogers, NewTown Macon has driven economic development in downtown Macon, improving property values, adding hundreds of lofts and driving public and private investment into downtown.

“Josh Rogers’ dedication to revitalizing downtown Macon has left an indelible mark on our community,” read a NewTown statement. “From his beginnings as a college intern at NewTown to his tenure as our leader, Josh’s innovative spirit, compassion, and unwavering commitment to Macon’s success transformed our city.”

Rogers understood the most significant obstacle to Macon’s growth was historic inequalities that keep Maconites separated: one of the most redlined cities in America, Macon for decades marginalized its Black residents.

“We have the opportunity to be a truly world class city, maybe the only place in the world that’s revitalized cooperatively — America’s most integrated revitalization,” Rogers told The Mercer Den in 2023. “Long term, that’s what I would hope for most. America desegregated 70 years ago, and (the country) has not yet integrated. I hope we can be a demonstration of how people can get along, and that the way to be successful is to build across the lines that divide that.”

He worked closely with other community leaders to preserve historic architecture and address systemic inequities, launching the Downtown Diversity Initiative with Macon-Middle Georgia Black Pages in 2018 to provide training and resources for Black entrepreneurs.

“It’s just a devastating loss,” Macon-Middle Georgia Black Pages Publisher Alex Habersham told The Melody. “I’ve lost a partner and a friend. He was a genuine person who had a special interest in improving housing and business for the African American community. He did a whole lot for the entire community, including the unserved and the underserved. When I heard about his death, I just didn’t want to believe it.”

Macon Mayor Lester Miller said that Rogers’ leadership and love for Macon “was at the center of our city’s rejuvenation.”

“Our hearts are with the Rogers family today, as well as with our NewTown Macon and downtown community, as we grieve the loss of Josh Rogers,” Miller said. “He was a true champion for our community, always pushing to make life better for all people.”

NewTown announced Tuesday that it created a fund to pay for Jack and Ellie’s education. NewTown board members will contribute to the fund, and welcome contributions from community members to support future education opportunities for Rogers’ children.

To contribute to the Jack and Ellie Rogers Education Fund, go to newtownmacon.com/donate and select “Jack and Ellie Fund” from the drop-down menu.