Aeragene “Jean” “Red" “Fat” (Née Rogers) Williams

Aeragene “Jean” “Red" “Fat” (Née Rogers) Williams was born on August 15, 1934 in Jackson, Tennessee to Raymond Rogers and Ceoria “Mama” Hicks Rogers. Aeragene was the 4th child of 6 children born to this union. After the tragic loss of her husband, Ceoria moved with her 6 young children to Gary, Indiana.

Aeragene Rogers began working as a waitress at the early age of 16 while also earning her high school diploma from Roosevelt High School in Gary, Indiana.

Aeragene Rogers met and fell in love with Thomas Mason. One son, Cocteus Tyrone “T-Man” Mason, was born in 1952 from this union.

In 1954, Aeragene Rogers married her first husband, Franklin Carter. In 1956, one son, Nehelio Dane Carter, was born from this union.

Aeragene Carter met and married her second husband, Richard Edward Wells, Sr. In 1959, one son, Richard Edward Wells, Jr., was born from this union.

In 1962, Aeragene Wells then met and married her third husband, Stephen Eugene Williams I, who nicknamed her “Fat.” In 1964, one daughter, Patrice Monica Williams, was born from this union. During her marriage to Stephen I, Aeragene switched to a better paying position as a keypunch operator at the Merchandise Mart, in downtown Chicago, Illinois. She commuted every day, Monday through Friday, via the Southshore Train Line, back and forth from Gary, Indiana to Chicago. Aeragene truly enjoyed this position as well as her supervisor and coworkers there. Her coworkers nicknamed her ”Red” because she used to die her hair blondish red. It was a great joy for her daughter to accompany Stephen I to pick her up from the train each day and take pictures of Aeragene like she was a model on the catwalk as she walked from the train to their family car.

Aeragene Williams lived in Gary, Indiana for over 80 years of her life where she enjoyed cooking, baking, and playing bingo. Recently, Aeragene moved to Arlington, Texas and was a resident of Matlock Place Rehab Center where so that her daughter could keep a closer eye on her health, welfare, and rehab; her prognosis for recovery was great! The team of nurses and aides assigned to assist Aeragene at Matlock Place cared for her and met her every need while she was there. Aeragene was preparing to start her physical and occupational rehab therapies on October 6, 2025. However, God had another plan because, after a nine-month long battle with three major illnesses, Aeragene Williams departed this life at 8:59am at Methodist Hospital in Mansfield, Texas on Sunday, October 5, 2025. Aeragene “Jean” “Fat” “Red” Williams fought the good fight, she finished her course, and we pray that a crown of life is waiting for her.

Aeragene Williams was preceded in death by her father, Raymond Rogers; her mother, Ceoria Rogers; her spouse, Stephen E. Williams I; her first-born son, Cocteus Tyrone Mason Rogers; 3 brothers, Charles Houston (Katie) Rogers, James Harold (Mary) Rogers, and William Clifford (Julia) Rogers; 1 sister, Hattie Powell; 4 nieces, Sharon Jean (Jerry) White, Pamela Rogers, Rosalind Carmichael, and Saadia Zambrano; 3 nephews, Ronald Clarke, Marlon Rogers, and Darryl Rogers; 1-sister-in-law, Rochelle O. Williams Greene; and her long-time companion of 32+ years, James Williams.

Aeragene Williams leaves to mourn her passing 1 daughter, Patrice M. Williams; 2 sons, Nehelio D. Carter and Richard E. Wells, Jr.; 1 grandson, Stephen E. Williams II; 3 granddaughters, LaShawn Rogers, Stephanie Wiggins, and Tyniesha Spears; 1 sister, Laowida Barge; 1 brother, Parish (Jackie) Davis; 1 most favored niece, helper, and medical advisor, Acquanetta (Scott) McKinney; 1 close cousin, John T. (Darlene) Talley II; 1 best friend and sister-in-law, Julia Rogers; 9 additional nieces, 10 nephews, and a host of other relative and friends.