02/20/2026
Roger Dale Jefferson, 84, of South Charleston, WV, passed away on February 16, 2026.
He is survived by son Brad (Rebecca Stafford) of Columbus, daughter Laura Jefferson Anitori of Powell, OH, granddaughters Sara Anitori and Mary Anitori both of Columbus, grandson Adam Jefferson of Huntington, WV. Roger was preceded in death by his wife Carol who passed in October 2024, and parents Hobert and Christine Jefferson. He will be missed by many friends, coaching and teaching colleagues, and former students and athletes.
Roger was born on September 21, 1941 in Huntington, WV, to Hobert and Christine Maxwell Jefferson. He grew up on a farm on the left fork of Union Ridge (as he would often say) near Lesage, WV and was a 1959 graduate of Barboursville High School. At Barboursville, Roger was a starter on an undefeated football team in 1958 that finished 3rd in the state rankings at a time when only the top 2 teams played for the championship. He was also a state ranked wrestler for Barboursville and earned an athletic scholarship to play both sports at Marshall University.
At Marshall, Roger was an Education Major and was a 3-year letter winner for both the football and wrestling teams. He was co-captain of the 1962 football team with his high school teammate, Bob Maxwell. He was a 2-time place winner as a heavyweight wrestler in the Mid-American Conference Wrestling Tournament and was captain of the wrestling team his senior year. Roger maintained many close friendships with his Marshall teammates over the years and he was a strong supporter of the University his entire life. Roger was honored to be inducted into the Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame for his achievements there in 2003.
Roger married Carol Newman in 1961 while still in school and after graduating from Marshall in 1964, they moved to Charleston where he taught and coached at Stonewall Jackson, Charleston and Capital High Schools. Roger and Carol eventually settled in South Charleston raising their family there.
Roger was a positive influence on many young lives as a father, grandfather, teacher and coach. Many of his former students kept in touch with him through the years which he very much enjoyed. He also maintained close relationships with the coaching staffs he worked with and often pointed out their contributions to his teams’ successes. The teams Roger coached were very successful. He was part of teams that won 5 AAA football state championships – one as an assistant at Stonewall in 1974 under Bill Jarrett, one as the head coach at Charleston High in 1988 (the school’s last year} and three at Capital High in 1989, 1991 and 1995. He was especially proud that the 1988 Charleston team shut out all 3 opponents in the playoffs. He was honored as West Virginia High School Coach of the Year in 1990. Roger also started a wrestling program at Stonewall and coached 3 Stonewall wrestling teams to AAA runner-up finishes in the state tournament including 1966 which was only the second year the school had a wrestling program. He also officiated wrestling for many years and officiated 12 WV state wrestling tournaments. Roger has been inducted into the West Virginia Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the West Virginia Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for his contributions to high school athletics.
Roger would always make sure to acknowledge others who helped with the success of his teams and that included assistant coaches at Charleston and Capital; John Baird, Bob Cummings, Howard Daniels, Moe Townson, John Vencill, Stan White, Donnie Woolwine and Jack Woolwine. He also worked with Bill Jarrett, Garland Barnhart, John Pisapia and Paul Talbott at Stonewall. He maintained a close relationship too with wrestling official friends Dale Slack and Rodney Elam. Many of his former students, coaching friends and official friends checked on him, took him to wrestling tournaments and football games and kept his spirits up as it got a little harder for him to get around in his later years.
Roger retired from teaching and coaching in 1997 and started a new profession selling football equipment for Riddell to colleges, high schools, middle schools and youth leagues in West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky. Not surprisingly, he excelled with this job and was one of the top sellers in the company.
Roger very much enjoyed his time with family and friends, including grandchildren Sara, Mary and Adam. They will miss his “traditional” Christmas gifts of oranges, apples and bananas. He was a wonderful dad and grandfather.
Roger and Carol had many great friends including Mary and Moe Townson and Vicki and Butch Pendell of Charleston with whom they enjoyed many spirited card games and family vacations. Roger and Carol’s college friend Judy May Hayes and her family have been great friends to the Jeffersons. Judy’s husband Ralph May was Roger’s college teammate in both football and wrestling. Ralph passed in 2008 and Judy’s current husband, Frank Hayes became a good friend to Roger and Carol. The May/Hayes family have gone to many Marshall football games with the Jeffersons over the years.
A service to honor the life of Roger will be held on Sunday, February 22 at 4 pm at Snodgrass Funeral Home in South Charleston with Reverend Jim Plyburn officiating. Visitation for family and friends will precede the service beginning at 2:30 pm.
Burial will be at 11:00 am on Monday, February 23 at Spring Hill Cemetery in Huntington.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Habitat for Humanity of Kanawha & Putnam Counties by going into https://hfhkp.org/support-us/ and put “in memory of Roger Jefferson” in the notes. You may also send checks to 815 Court Street, Charleston, WV 25301 and add his name to the memo line. Or donations can also be made by going online to Faith in Action of the Greater Kanawha Valley or Faith in Action – River Cities.
Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting www.snodgrassfuneral.com and selecting the obituary. Arrangements are in care of Snodgrass Funeral Home.
