Roy F. Rodman

1922 - 2017

Roy F. Rodman

Ridgeland, MS

Roy F. Rodman, longtime resident of Ridgeland, Ms. joined the Life Eternal, Monday, September 11, 2017. He was born September 11, 1922 in Murphysboro, Ill to George Washington and Mabel (Hinchcliff) Rodman.

After high school graduation, Roy served as a clerk with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, until joining the Navy, November 1942. He was a cryptographer in the Signal Intelligence Service until March, 1946. During that time, he met fellow cryptographer, Frances C. Smith who he married in September, 1946. Postwar, he returned to the FBI, attending George Washington University, and graduating from Benjamin Franklin University. He was employed as a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 37 years, serving Field Offices in Newark, NJ, Chicago, Ill and Jackson, Ms. Following retirement from the FBI, he was the Chief Investigator for the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance for a dozen years.

Roy taugh adult Sunday School for many years, his special interest being the early history of Christian Church. His interest in early church symbolism led him to design and craft these symbols for the first Chrismon tree in Jackson. He and Frances decorated the thirty-foot trees at their churches, as well as the Jackson Mall, into their 80's. Roy loved music of all kinds and was an enthusiastic patron of Jackson Symphony. One of his proudest achievements was playing first trombone in the Murphysboro High School band, which won the National High School Band competition in Kansas City, Mo.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Frances; parents, and brother, G.W. Rodman, Belleville, Illinois. He is survived by a daughter, Mary Ann Rodman Downing and husband, Craig of Alpharetta, Georgia and granddaughter, Lily Nell Rodman Downing of Atlanta, Georgia. He is also survived by twenty-one beloved nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be 2pm, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1799 Clinton Raymond Blvd, Clinton, Ms. with burial following at Parkway Memorial Cemetery, 1161 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, Ms. There will be no viewing or visitation. Parkway Funeral Home is handling the arrangements

Memorials donations may be made to Community Animal Rescue & Adoptions at their website carams.org or Learning Disabilities Association of America (ldaamerica.org)