Stephen "Stebo" Longino Rodgers, 69, of McCarley, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at his home with his wife and children by his side.

Stebo was born August 13, 1955, in Belzoni, to Malcolm Durwood Rodgers and Marie Willoughby Rodgers. He was raised in Belzoni where he graduated from Humphreys Academy. Stebo attended Mississippi State University where he was in the Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He worked nearly 50 years as an ag pilot and was the owner of Rodgers Air Service in Belzoni. Stebo was a member of the Mississippi Agricultural Aviation Association, National Agricultural Aviation Association, and Half-A-Hundred Club. Second to his family and friends, Stebo had a passion for flying (sometimes like a daredevil) and spending hours in the woods turkey hunting.  He also loved farming, planting food plots, and spending time with his children and grandchildren.  There was never a dull moment when he was around.

Stebo was preceded in death by his father, Malcolm Durwood Rodgers and his son, Stephen Longino Rodgers, II.

He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Mary Peyton Baird Rodgers; mother, Marie Rodgers of Belzoni; two daughters, Susan Mishelle "Shelle" Bates (Lee) of Columbus and Haiden Alexander Rodgers of Fort Worth, Texas; three grandchildren, Liam Rodgers, Lann Rodgers, and Lillie Layton Rodgers; one brother, Kenny Rodgers (Theresa) of Belzoni; five sisters, Kay Kornegay (Ken) of Belzoni, Sande Cunningham (Joey) of Belzoni, Connie Morgan (Chip) of Leland, Paula Kiker of Belzoni, and Leanne Duett (Perry) of Belzoni; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Saturday, March 22, 2025 at 3:00 at the Belzoni Municipal Airport.  There will be a flyover in his honor at 4:00 with burial to follow at Hickory Grove Cemetery in Inverness. Burton Funeral Home of Indianola has been entrusted with arrangements.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Tony Frey, Brooks Jones, John Rice, Ken Rodgers, and Seth Robertson for the loving care and assistance they provided for Stebo during his illness.  They also would like to thank Legacy Hospice, especially Cindy, Ashlynn, and Lauren, for going above and beyond to keep Stebo content and comfortable these last few weeks.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or a charity of your choice.