Roderic K. Whitley

Roderic Keith Whitley passed away unexpectedly on Friday, March 4, 2022. Roderic had a zest for life and was impactful to everyone he met. He was kind hearted, loving and very competitive. He was adventurous, charming, polite, quick witted and had an outgoing personality that was captivating and contagious. He was driven, meticulous, helpful and a natural leader who provided solid advice to family and friends on a wide range of subjects.

Roderic Keith Whitley was born on February 21, 1972, to Barbara McBride Whitley Chavis and the late Gary Rodgers Whitley in Austin, Texas. He was a cherished son and the treasured younger brother of Gary Lynn Whitley. He also greatly adored and loved his son Roderic Lynn Whitley.

Roderic professed his faith in Christ at an early age and was a member of Grant African Methodist Episcopal Worship Center.

Roderic attended schools in Austin, Houston, Leander and Prairie View, Texas. He attended Andrews Elementary School, Austin, Texas; Braeburn Elementary School, Houston, Texas; Lamar Junior High, Austin, Texas; Leander High School; Hyde Park Baptist High School, and graduated from McCallum High School.

Roderic excelled in basketball at Lamar Junior High School, Leander High School, Hyde Park Baptist High School and McCallum High School. Roderic was recruited and earned an athletic scholarship to attend Hyde Park Baptist High School. He earned All District recognition and numerous collegiate basketball scholarship offers. Roderic attended Prairie View A&M College for two years with a major in Communication Technology. Roderic was very talented and also pursued and earned certifications in construction and horticulture.

Roderic was a highly skilled barber and attended Roffler Barber School in Austin Texas, completing required course requirements and successfully completing written and practical exams. Roderic was passionate about being a barber and an entrepreneur in the cosmetology industry. Roderic was meticulous about his haircuts, often cutting his hair daily. He greatly admired his grandmother, aunts and uncle for their accomplishments in this field. His passion for barbering led him to inspire his brother Gary to become a barber.

Family was everything to Roderic. He cared deeply about his mother and brother, frequently showing his love by being the first to get up in the mornings and surprising everyone by cooking breakfast and other meals for his family. He loved the outdoors and started his mornings with coffee and the reading of his Bible while sitting on the patio enjoying the outdoors.

Roderic entered eternal and peaceful rest on Friday, March 4, 2022. He leaves to cherish his memory his devoted mother Barbara McBride Whitley Chavis; brother Gary Lynn Whitley; son Roderic Lynn Whitley; Uncle Homer L. Edwards; Aunt Majorie Odom (Joe); Aunt Helen McBride Thompson (John); Aunt Linda Whitley (Raymond); Aunt Lydia Whitley (Charles) and a host of cousins.

Roderic is preceded in death by his father, Gary R. Whitley; uncle Raymond Whitley, Jr.; aunt Mary Whitley; uncle Aaron Whitley; paternal grandfather Raymond Whitley; paternal Grandmother Dorothy Mae Whitley; maternal Grandmother Jeanne Prosser Edwards; Paternal Grand Father Homer Edwards; maternal Grandfather Tommie McBride; maternal Grandmother Florence Mae Prosser McBride.

Today is all about celebrating the life of Roderic Whitley. To God be the Glory.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com for Barbara Chavis and the Whitley family.