Natalie Rodgers has her mind on her future, and it’s a path she’s had mapped out for quite some time.
Rodgers is currently the chief clerk in the Probate Office of Escambia County – a spot that puts her in the position to run for the office after current Probate Judge Doug Agerton retires.
“I love the work,” she said. “I really enjoy what I do working with the public and helping people.
“I would like very much to continue with my work until Judge Agerton retires, and then I would like to run for his office to be the new judge,” she said.

Agerton is a good boss, Rodgers said.
“I have learned a lot from him,” she said. “Right now, one doesn’t have to be a lawyer to be probate judge in Escambia County. In some larger places they do have to have a law degree.”
Right now Rodgers has a pretty busy job. She is able to do anything the judge does except conduct mental health hearings, although she does do all the paper work for those types of cases. The probate office handles estates, adoptions and all kinds of civil matters. She is also very involved with county elections, Rodgers said.
“That is one of my main jobs,” she said. “We have to take care of all things pertaining to elections and it is really hectic in a big election year.
“Although I can not handle mental case hearings, I do all the paper work and leg work to set a hearing before the judge,” she added.
Rodgers was born and raised as an only child in Atmore. She attended school there and graduated from Escambia County High School in 2003.
She attended nursing school for one semester, until she figured out that she was in the wrong place. She then turned her attention to working in law. Her mother works with Judge Bosch in family court as a judicial assistant. That may have been the catalyst to set Rodgers on her way.
She enrolled at Faulkner State Community College and earned her associate’s degree as a paralegal. After working for several lawyers for about seven years, she found out there was an opening in the probate office in the county courthouse. She spent one year there as a clerk before being selected to be chief clerk two years ago.
“I don’t do much outside of my job, except to look after my family,” she said. “That keeps me very busy. I have a son who plays baseball and my daughter is a cheerleader, so I spend a lot of time taking them to practice.
“I also have a seven week old baby, and I am involved in my church at First United Methodist Church of Atmore.”
Rodgers said she is happy in her job and expects that will only get better.