Linda Eades Rodriguez

Linda Eades Rodriguez, was born on January 20, 1955. She passed away peacefully on August 8, 2023. She had bravely fought multiple myeloma for nearly two years with the support of her family, and medical team at the Duke Cancer Center.

Linda graduated from Staunton River High School in 1973 and later attended Ferrum College before transferring to the University of North Carolina -- Wilmington graduating with a B.S. degree in Marine Biology. She later returned to school to earn a Master of Science from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in Exercise Physiology, which she applied to her work in the Wellness industry.

She leaves behind a legacy of activism, compassion, kindness, love, and respect for the natural world. Linda supported communities seeking justice, equality, and artistic expression. Linda’s love of all beings – especially plants and animals – propelled her in her work for their protection for current and future generations. She was beloved by her neighbors, especially the young women who admired her strength of spirit and ultimate kindness. Linda will live in their hearts forever. She had a great love of hiking with some of her favorite places being Falls Lake, Umstead Park, Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge and Muir Woods.

Her love of the natural world began at an early age when she and her sisters, Brenda and Debbie, would explore the California and then later Southwestern Virginia countryside. The sisters were raised by their grandparents, James Kenneth Eades and Cola Leona Barker Eades.

Linda cultivated a great passion for plants and gardening, which led her to the NC Master Gardener program. Linda used this training to tap into her own vision and creativity which she used in her home garden by employing regenerative methods long before they became mainstream -- such as organic fertilizing, composting, natural pest management and the use of rainwater for plant irrigation.

Linda’s passion fueled her efforts for environmental, economic and social justice. Her vision and leadership were channeled into convening the Care of Creation mission group for nearly 10 years along with the Peace and Justice mission group for a shorter period of time at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church. She fostered discussion and action as to how these issues – species loss, climate disruption, deforestation, inequality, policy -- were interwoven and affected us all. The class brought in speakers from different disciplines who shared ideas and concrete actions – from what you ate, your transportation choices, your water use, what you invested in, how to better heat and cool your home with renewable energy and how to support local businesses and farmers -- that members could use to make our communities more resilient, equitable and sustaining for ourselves and future generations.

For the Peace and Justice mission group, her leadership and collaboration with the Care of Creation mission group, forged a new partnership to take action for those without a voice be it for -- women’s rights, LGBTQIA rights, fair wages, environmental justice, voting rights, hunger, public education, veteran’s rights, fair housing, healthcare for all, indigenous community rights, supporting immigrant communities -- just to name a few key areas. Linda also encouraged Peace and Justice mission group members to continue supporting the HK on J Rally, the Moral Monday movement, lobbying for teachers and public education, and awareness of Raleigh City Council actions.

Besides supporting the protection of fauna, flora and fungi, Linda’s love of animals manifested itself into opening her home up to rescue animals – in particular cats and dogs -- in need of a loving, safe forever home.

Linda is survived by her husband of 28 years Robert (Bob) Rodriguez; her sisters, Brenda Downie, husband Rob Downie ( deceased ), Debbie Hartzell, husband Charlie Hartzell; sister, Rebekah Kaczmarek, husband Joel Kaczmarek; brothers, Steven Eades and wife Cindi, Kenneth Eades and wife Natalie; sister, Vickie Eades Klaus. She is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A celebration service for Linda will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, August 20th at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, located at 1801 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27605.

In lieu of flowers her family asks that donations be made to one of the following organizations in her name: Safe Haven for Cats in Raleigh, NC: http://www.safehavenforcats.org/ (919)-710-8184; The Center For Education, Imagination & The Natural World in Greensboro, NC: https://www.beholdnature.org/; The Piedmont Wildlife Center in Durham, NC: https://www.piedmontwildlifecenter.org/ (919)-489-0900.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home & Crematory, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh.