Michael Jerome Rocker

The humble and amazing life’s journey of our dearly beloved Michael Jerome Rocker has come to a sudden ending, as God has summoned him from an earthly life of labor and love to an Eternal Life in Heaven on Wednesday, August 18, 2021, at Long Beach Memorial Hospital, Long Beach, California.

Michael was a true gift from God. A bouncing baby boy born to Earlmer and Theresa Rocker on February 2, 1968, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Lompoc, California. He was the youngest of six children. Michael was preceded in death by his Paternal Grandfather Clarence Rocker; Paternal Grandmother Alma (Burrel) Rocker; Maternal Grandfather, Edgar Northea Butler; Maternal Grandmother, Arnesa (Brackett) Sole; and Nephew, Joseph Lee Washington, Jr.

Michael grew up a military brat living in and out of base housing at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Mission Hills, and Vandenberg Village, California for the most part. Michael was a smart and talented child. He excelled in sports particularly football where he played on little league base teams and the Cabrillo Varsity team. He was educated by the Lompoc school system and graduated from Cabrillo High School in Vandenberg Village in 1986. After high school, Michael followed his father’s footsteps by “Aiming High” and enlisting in the United States Air Force at the tender age of 18.

Everyone who joins the military has one thing in common: They must sworn in by repeating the military oath of enlistment or military oath of office. Michael had the distinction of being sworn in by the United States Navy’s Elite Flight Demonstration Team the “Blue Angels.” Michael served for four years and was stationed at George Air Force Base, Victorville, California and Osan Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea or Kunsan Air Base, Pyeongtaek, South Korea. He was the recipient of (medals or awards). He was discharged in 1990, achieving the rank of Air First Class. He was the recipient of the Air Force Good Conduct medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon - Rifle, and Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon. He was discharged in December of 1989.

After his tour in the military, Michael returned to California and pursued several business ventures including working as a stockbroker, working in gyms, and ultimately achieving the ultimate entrepreneur’s dream by starting his own vehicle recovery service, security company, and limousine service.

During this time, he met the love of his life Dhanell Azada. Michael and Dhanell dated for several years before they sealed their union with an intimate beach wedding in 2013 in Long Beach, California. Their loving union lasted for eight years, and God blessed them with a beautiful daughter Melaeni Zhade and two handsome sons Marcel Daniel and Myles John. The family enjoyed traveling and spending time with their extended family.

In addition to his family, Michael enjoyed rebuilding and racing cars. It was not usual to find him in his garage rebuilding a motor or working on one of the kids’ toys. We are THANKFUL to God for blessing us with such a wonderful man who was a true inspiration to us all. We will dearly miss his presence here with us, but we rejoice in the belief that though he is absent from his tired, physical body…his soul is present with the Lord! The Glory for the life of our precious Michael.

Michael leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Dhanell (Azada) Rocker of Long Beach, California; his sons Cortez Rocker of Fairfield, California, twins Naguy Rocker of Phoenix, Arizona and Nygelle Rocker of Scottsdale, Arizona, Marcel Rocker of Long Beach, California, and Myles Rocker of Long Beach, California; his daughters Jazzmin (Jamie) Turner of Texarkana, Arkansas) and Melaeni Rocker of Long Beach, California; his parents Earlmer and Theresa (Butler) Rocker of Citronelle, Alabama; brothers Ric Rocker of Wichita, Kansas and Reginald Rocker of Leakesville, Mississippi; his sisters Rosalind (Martin) Anthony of Ogden, Utah, Dr. Sharon Shaw of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Deidra Rocker of Jacksonville, Florida; his grandsons Kyran Rocker of Fairfield, California, Jaxon Turner of Texarkana, Arkansas, and Jalen Turner of Texarkana, Arkansas); foster brother Scott Garrett of Mountain Home, Idaho); foster nephew Austin Garret of Citronelle, Alabama; best friend Keeway Young of Alexandria, Louisiana; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and other relatives.