The Rev. Dr. Cedric Sydney Rodney was born in Georgetown, Guyana in South America on October 10, 1924 and he departed this earthly life on November 20, 2012. He was the second child of Rosaline Payne Rodney and Thomas McKeadon Rodney. He was baptized at the Queenstown Moravian Church on Sunday, November 23, 1924 by the renowned Reverend John Dingwall of Jamaica, West Indies.

At the age of twenty-two Rodney immigrated to the United States and earned a Bachelor of Religious Education degree from Malone University in Canton, Ohio. Later, he received a Master of Arts degree from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. He also attended Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and was awarded the Doctor of Divinity degree. He completed additional post-graduate studies at Oxford University, Canterbury Ecumenical School in England and at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.

Dr. Rodney led churches in Delaware, Guyana and North Carolina. He was the pastor of St. Philips Moravian Church from 1968 to 1976 and from 1984 to 2003. Dr. Rodney was a member of several boards in the Moravian Church: Salemtowne, Salem Academy and College, Moravian Theological Seminary, Old Salem, Moravian Historical Society and Historic Bethabara Park. He was a member of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth School Board, Hospice & Palliative Care Center, Senior Services, North Carolina Social Services Commission, Winston-Salem Rotary, President of Forsyth Amateur Radio Society, and many other boards and commissions.

Rev. Dr. Rodney worked on the campus of Winston-Salem State University for four decades which included the roles of Chaplain, faculty member, coordinator of the Youth for Christ Choir, chair of the Joseph N. Patterson Lecture Series, coordinator of the James A. Gray Lecture Series, and a member of numerous campus committees. He was the first to be named Distinguished Professor at the university. In recognition of his many contributions to the university, in 1997 he was the recipient of the University Distinguished Service Award – which was later named in his honor. He also received the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Winston-Salem State University.

An avid traveler, Rodney visited many countries of the world. He was a published author, a well-known lecturer, and was frequently asked to bless many public gatherings. Rodney was known as pastor, teacher, ethicist, peacemaker and a faithful servant of God. He was married to Dr. Mae Lipscomb Rodney, Director of Library Services at Winston-Salem State University. From a previous marriage he was the father of three children: Elise, Yvette and Cabot; the grandfather of four grandchildren: Jamal, Justin, Ciera, and Kieran and the great-grandfather of Jah'Zara. He leaves one niece, Desiree, one nephew, Stanley and several grand-nieces and grand-nephews, as well as cousins: the Rodneys, the Paynes and the Williams. He is mourned by lifelong friends: Dr. Robert Baird (Georgiana), Messers Ernest Alstrom (Lynette), Walter Alexander, Roy King and Cecil Murray (Louise) and Veronica Robinson. Many Guyanese friends, his colleagues from Winston-Salem State University, and brothers and sisters of the ministry will miss him too.

The life celebration for Rev. Dr. Cedric S. Rodney will be held at 11am Monday, November 26, 2012 at the Home Moravian Church, 529 Church Street W-S, NC. The family will greet friends on Sunday evening, November 25, 2012 from 6pm until 8pm in the fellowship hall of United Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, 450 Metropolitan Drive W-S, NC.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the Saint Phillips Moravian Church, 3000 Bon Air Avenue W-S, NC 27105 or to the WSSU Friends of the Library, 227 O Kelly Library, W-S, NC 27110.