Roderick Farb McMullan Petty

Tuscaloosa - Rod Petty Obituary

Roderick Farb McMullan Petty, age 57, passed away October 13, 2023 at UAB Hospital after a life-long struggle with a congenital heart defect. He was born October 10, 1966, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and was the loving son of Susan McMullan Petty and Arthur V. Petty, Jr. He attended Arcadia Elementary School, graduated from Central High School and received a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from the University of Alabama in 1996.

Rod was a beautiful, kind, gentle and compassionate soul who always saw the best in people; he touched the lives of so many with his loving and accepting manner. He was a gentle warrior and incredibly resilient in the face of a debilitating congenital heart defect. He walked spiritually along his difficult journey, was always hopeful for his future and believed in the healing power and grace of God, despite the challenges he faced.

As a teenager, Rod was one of the first recipients of the groundbreaking Fontan heart operation, following numerous open-heart surgeries, which allowed him to live longer than he otherwise would have lived. Rod found great comfort in God and loved being a part of Covenant Presbyterian Church. He was an inspiration to many who met him briefly or who had the privilege of knowing him for years as his love and appreciation for his life despite his struggles shaped his grounded views on what really mattered in this world.

Rod was a poet and used the pen to express his feelings in beautiful prose. He was fascinated by the human mind, loved to learn and always sought to improve himself, through continual learning or introspection, to be the best version of himself. He loved the beach where he spent many summers as a child with his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins and continued to find peaceful respite there as an adult with his mother, sister, aunt and niece and nephews. Rod was an avid sports fan and never missed watching an Alabama football game (Roll Tide!), a pastime that he especially enjoyed with his father and grandfather early in life.

Rod viewed people of different faiths, beliefs, and cultures as valued and worthy of love and respect; he believed that humanity should create a world of peace and acceptance and tried to live his life as an example by helping others and being a loyal, loving friend. He loved animals and grew to appreciate nature and the simple things in life. Rod cherished his family and was devoted to his loving mother, whose unwavering love and support knew no bounds.

Roderick Farb McMullan Petty was predeceased by his Grandparents, William Harold McMullan and Edwina Glasscock McMullan; Dr. Morris and Helen Farb; Anne Bennett Petty; Father, Arthur V. Petty, Jr; Aunts, Donna McMullan Hodges and Diane McMullan.

He is survived by his mother, Susan McMullan Petty of Tuscaloosa, Al; sisters, Heather Petty Regnault (Phil) of Atlanta, Ga, and Dina Petty Horton, of Seattle Wa; Aunts, Patricia Farb Green (Arthur) of Birmingham, Al; Mary McMullan Harris (Ross) of Mountain View, Ca; Stepmother, Teri Petty of Tucson, Az; Stepbrother Gerald Patton Gabel (Katherine) of Whetstone, Az; cousins, Leah Green Dukes (Matt) of Huntsville, Al; Chris O. Harris of Campbell, Ca; William (Bill) M. Harris (Kim) of Los Gatos, Ca, Elizabeth Suzanne Larson (Trent) of Carmel, Ca, Sandra Hodges Yessick (Dwayne) of Theodore, Al, Jacquelyn Hodges Marshall (Brent) of Birmingham, Al; nephews, Alexander William Regnault of Atlanta, Ga and Ben Horton of Seattle, Wa; and niece, Sophia Elisabeth Regnault of Atlanta, Ga.

Rod Petty's family would like to express their deep appreciation to the doctors and nurses at UAB Hospital ICVU and the Kirklin Clinic for their compassionate and dedicated care; to Right At Home for their in-home aid; and to Hospice of West Alabama for end-of-life comfort and kindness.

A Celebration of Life for Rod will be held Saturday, November 4, 2023 from 11:00 am to 11:45 am in the Chapel at Memory Chapel Funeral Home, 2200 Skyland Blvd East, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, followed by a celebration of life reception at 11:45 am in the Legacy Room. Honorary pallbearers include Mike Williams, Martha Corriher, Mary Harris, Patricia Green, Philippe Regnault, Alexander Regnault, Billie Joe Phillips and Ben Horton.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that gifts be made in Rod's memory to UAB School of Medicine, Pediatric Cardiology Gifts Fund or the Dr. John W. Kirklin Cardiovascular Research Fund on their website: www.uab.edu/advancement/ways-to-give and click on "Give Online," "Schools, Colleges and Units," select Heersink School of Medicine; then click on "Select Fund."