from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — Margaret Ann Phillips “Peggy” Cherrix Rodgers, 87, died July 12, 2017.

Nicknamed “Sunshine” as an infant, she continued to spread that her entire life. She was a wife, mother, friend, teacher, business woman, beauty queen, advocate — the list could go on.

Upon graduation from Snow Hill High School and then Salisbury State Teacher’s College, she married Robert P. Cherrix, who always said he knew he would marry her in first grade. Together they built a successful harness horse racing stable until his untimely death at 43 years old.

Overcoming obstacles was part of her DNA. She reinvented her life, turned to her education and began teaching at Worcester Country School. Never to only have one job, she could also be found in the summers at Ocean Downs Raceway where she met her second husband, Roscoe Rodgers Jr. She blazed the way for women in a primarily male sport by becoming the first female Assistant Racing Secretary. She also could be found welcoming patrons at her favorite Italian restaurant in Ocean City.

After remaining in the second grade for 16 years and stressing the value of a good education, she relocated to Pompano Beach, Fla., to semi-retire with her second husband.

She continued spreading sunshine in the Sunshine State helping friends manage several beauty salons, and supporting her husband’s racing stable.

Final retirement came — after several health challenges — in Prescott Valley, Ariz., in 2010 where she continued to enjoy her full life. Many lives were touched with her genuine kindness.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Standardbred Retirement Foundation, 353 Sweetmans Lane, Millstone Township, NJ 08535 (www.adoptahorse.org).