Reflecting on Macon’s Josh Rogers and how we can honor his legacy

I got a text Sunday evening informing me of Josh Rogers’ death. 

I knew Josh — it was impossible to spend any time and do anything in Macon without knowing him. His presence, his impact was ubiquitous, consistent, insistent — but we were just casual acquaintances: quick greetings at Rotary, an interview for a story or two. 

But I couldn’t believe that he was dead. I struggled to even respond. All I could text back was “Oh no.” It felt like someone had punched me in the gut. I was, I am still, slightly in awe of how devastating his death feels.

Over the past few days, there’s been an avalanche of stories about Josh. It’s overwhelming to consider his impact on Bibb County, on people, on his friends and colleagues and neighbors. It feels like all of Macon is grieving. Just opening up Facebook, the anecdotes are overflowing:

“I was so lucky to know you.” 

“Josh Rogers made Macon the center of the universe through his incredible work.”

“A truly great man has left us way too soon.”

“Josh was truly a one of a kind leader.”

And just on and on. He was everywhere. If there was a new business, a nonprofit, an event in Macon over the past decade, it feels like Josh was there, encouraging, advising, supporting, creating. How did he find the time, the energy, the focus? I wish I had known him better, knew more about what drove him. 

In reading the thousands of stories about him, though, I feel I’ve had a glimpse into his motivation: he had a genuine, deep, abiding love for Maconites and a resilient hope for our future.

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I’ve spent the past few days reflecting on why Josh’s death feels so profoundly crushing. He was a young man, for sure, and it feels like he was robbed of many decades. Knowing he leaves behind a wife and two children is heartbreaking.

I think part of the reason for the community’s response is that the future can be scary. Depending on how long you’ve lived, you’ve endured wars, 9/11, the Great Recession and a global pandemic. 

Communities across Georgia are fighting to define themselves, to attract businesses, to convince young folks to stay and raise families. The forces of entropy, of stagnation, of inertia are almost overwhelming; it’s an easy slide into accepting things the way they are rather than energetically working toward a more connected, more vibrant, more prosperous future.

There are a lot of people and organizations working toward that kind of future in Macon. That effort will continue. But I believe one of the reasons Josh’s death feels so devastating, even for folks who did not know him or know him well, is that Josh was leading that charge. 

To borrow a thought, perhaps Macon is crushed because sometimes we are afraid, and Josh gave us courage.

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Macon is mourning the loss of a leader. But his friends and his family have lost so much more — a best friend, a husband, a dad. Our community is lucky to have had Josh so invested in it for the past 20 years. We are forever grateful to his wife Meaghan and children Jack and Ellie that they shared him so much with us.

Josh’s death leaves an enormous hole in our community. We’ve lost a steady, guiding hand; someone who was quick with support and encouragement, with sharing experience, an expert at holding folks to a high standard and providing them with the tools to meet it. He changed the lives of thousands upon thousands of people. He has planted trees whose shade he will never enjoy. That is the mark of a true leader.

I think one of the ways we can honor Josh’s legacy is by embracing his vision for Macon: his love for the people who live and work here, his hope for the future and his commitment to ensuring that future became a reality, particularly for Black Maconites who so often throughout Bibb County’s history have been ignored and marginalized.

Josh is irreplaceable. But maybe we can all become a little bit more like him — more focused, more caring, more encouraging, more diligent. What a legacy that would be.

Caleb Slinkard is the managing editor of The Macon Melody. You can email him at caleb@maconmelody.com.