Dewayne and Lesa Jeffries of Starkville announce the engagement of their daughter, Kathleen Bethay, to Joshua Marion Rodgers. Mr. Rodgers is the son of Richard and Renée Rodgers of Vicksburg.

Miss Jeffries is the granddaughter of the late Curtis Jeffries and Jean Jeffries of Eden, N.C., and John and Laverre Bethay of Montgomery, Ala.

Mr. Rodgers is the grandson of Dewey and Mickey Rodgers, the late Bradford Jones and Irene Jones, all of Vicksburg.

The bride-elect is a 2006 homeschool graduate. She is a senior at Mississippi State University, where she is majoring in educational psychology with an emphasis in children and family studies.

Miss Jeffries is a receptionist at SemiSouth Laboratories.

The prospective groom is a 2006 graduate of Porters Chapel Academy. He is a senior at Mississippi State University, where he is majoring in chemical engineering.

Mr. Rodgers is a member of the MSU co-op program and is employed at MSU and SemiSouth Laboratories.

The wedding will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 18, 2009, at First Baptist Church of Starkville. A reception will follow at the church.