Family Remembers Northport Mother Of Four Killed In Tragic Crash

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Audra Rogers gave special attention to fixing a vanity area for herself to get ready each morning, complete with mirrors and lighting. It was a short-lived point of pride for the 36-year-old mother of four, who soon gave up her new morning prep station to her son Roman, so he could play with his Legos out of reach of his baby brother.

That brief anecdote is just one of the myriad memories to Rogers' family that underscore who she was, not only as a mother, but as a person. As Patch previously reported, Rogers — who was expecting another child — was killed in a two-vehicle crash Monday evening on U.S. Highway 43, near John Swindle Road.

All four of her children were injured in the crash and are still hospitalized, family said, with two being transported by helicopter to Children's Hospital in Birmingham, while two were taken via ambulance.

"She took everything she was so excited about for her new vanity area and packed it up with zero hesitation and it was then Roman's Lego area," said Katie Bramlett, Rogers' mother. "She was just always putting her children first."

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Rogers, an Alabama powerlifting record holder and 2021 World’s Ms. Alabama Tourism, was the mother of four boys: Roman, Reed, Rawley and Rhett.

J.R. Coleman, the father of the couple's unborn son, Rayden, said he first met Rogers in a gym.

"I came up to her as she was squatting and we had a short conversation," he said. "I remember kicking myself because I didn't get her number and I wasn't sure if I would see her again."

As fortune would have it, the pair reconnected two years later on a deadlift platform, which was Rogers' favorite lift. It turned out that she was looking for a coach.

"We met eyes and I came up to her and she needed a coach, so I offered and she accepted," Coleman said. "We both weren't looking for a relationship but we couldn't help our feelings, especially mine. She told me that she made a prayer a week before we met on that platform that she needed a coach because she just let her previous one go. She said that prayer was answered by me — that God had put us there for more than that reason only, but surely this was his doing."

Rogers never shied from the spotlight or public service, but even as a child, Bramlett remembered her daughter as fearless, yet compassionate.

"She was an overachiever from an early age," she said. "She walked at eight months of age and when she got a little older, Audra loved making people laugh. She was always happy. Always had a smile on her face."

That caring nature wouldn't fade into adulthood with Rogers, and became even more apparent in the love she showed not just for her family and children, but the entire world around her.

"She would pick up stray animals and always had time to volunteer, despite having an almost impossible schedule," Bramlett said. "Her warm and fun nature naturally drew people to her. Until I looked at her Facebook posts today, I had no idea of the impact she had on so many lives."

Bramlett was taken aback by the outpouring of support seen for Rogers on social media in the wake of her death, as friends from the gym, classmates and others expressed their sadness over a life cut so short. Despite the flood of fond memories, though, Bramlett said she is still struggling to process the loss.

"As her mom for 36 years she has been the light of my life," she said. "We talked sometimes five times a day. We just had that close relationship that so many moms and daughters are blessed with. It has been a privilege to be her mom, her confidante and her friend. Any moment with her has been special."

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For Coleman, who is coping with the loss of a partner and child, he reflected on the mother that Rogers was and the dreams she had for the future, despite her success in seemingly everything she attempted.

"She was going to be World's Ms. Alabama 2022 as well," he said. "We had many great things leading up to this day but the moment we found out that we were going to have a baby changed so much for us."

Coleman said she welcomed the new addition to the family and was more than fit for the challenge of raising five boys, as she had proven with the four she loved so much.

"Every single opportunity she had with her boys, it was taken, no matter what," he said. "All of the late nights and early mornings being a mother to these boys was amazing to witness."

Bramlett agreed, saying from the moment Rogers became a mother, her children were her life.

"She always put the boys first and kept them front and center," she said. "She amazed many at how she balanced working nights, juggling the busy schedule of four boys, including all their sports and setting goals to become a pro power lifter. She set some new records not long ago."

It goes without saying that moving forward will be difficult for those she left behind, but Coleman said he plans to keep Rogers' memory alive by staying the course and never giving up. A small part of this, he said, was reaching a long sought after powerlifting goal that he had been working toward with encouragement from Rogers.

"She always pushed me to do better in everything," he said. "Powerlifting, specifically. I'm going to continue to do this sport for her. She and my son Rayden. They will be my why for powerlifting and never letting go of reaching my goals."

A GoFundMe online fundraising drive was started for the family to aid in expenses, which has already raised $17,076 toward its goal of $18,000.

To donate, click here.

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