Roderick Paul Stevens

A beam of white light shone from heaven in anticipation of welcoming one of God’s servants home. Roderick Paul Stevens passed from death unto life on Wednesday, March 24th, 2021 at 9:27 a.m. after a brief battle with liver cancer. Roderick was the 2nd of 3 children born to the late Paul Onidust Stevens and the 3rd of 4 children born to his mother the late Wilhelmina Hammons. Roderick was born on January 23, 1953 in Los Angeles, CA. Roderick accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior and was baptized. He also accepted his unorthodox calling to the ministry of Christ. Rod attended John Muir High School in Pasadena, CA and took some courses at Pasadena City College. Rod entered the military at age 17 as a soldier in the few, the proud, the Marines. Rod is a VietNam veteran, where he served 2 tours of duty in combat. He was the only one in his platoon to keep his position as squad leader for the duration of bootcamp and was given the privilege to march the platoon back after a hike. Rod graduated boot camp with 1 stripe. He was a rifleman and drove for the Colonel. He proudly and valiantly served his country. Rod received the National Defense Service medal, the Rifle Sharpshooter Badge, Vietnam Service medal with 1 Star, and a Good Conduct Medal during his service. Roderick’s military training gave him a superior work ethic. His motto was early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. He began and ended his civilian career in finance, working as a loan officer and working as an accountant with the Department of Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) where he was a Lead Financial Accountant and retired in 2015 after 27 years of excellent service. Upon his retirement, a flag was flown over the nation’s capitol in his name and taken down at day’s end and sent to him in honor of his civilian service. Rod “The K.I.DoubleD.” was known for his “George Jefferson” walk and his million dollar bright smile. He was full of wisdom and was regularly sought out by many for advice and prayer. If you knew him, then he talked to you about his love for the Great God Yaweh (Jehovah) and how he lived to please the King of Kings and make it into his kingdom. His humor was impeccable and often caught the hearer off guard. He loved pickles and sunflower seeds and shared them with those he loved. His big heart had the capacity to make many “sons” and “daughters” of the younger people who were privileged to be in his circle of influence and he was affectionately known as “Pop Stevens”. He was a professional boxer and a boxing coach. He coached the sport and used his platform to build men. He started coaching his own children in boxing and his 3rd son, Rashid “The Boogeyman” Stevens went on to win the 2015 National Golden Gloves Championship and the silver medal in the 2016 Olympic Trials as one of the Elite 8. In memoriam, his picture is being hung in the Barnett Community Recreation Center gym and a corner in the boxing ring is being named after him. In July of 1984, he met the love of his life, Yulonda (Johnson) Stevens as she came to his place of employment for a job interview. He told the security guard that he was talking with while on his break, that if she came to work there, that he was going to marry that woman - and he did. They were married in July, 1989 and moved from Gardena, CA to Columbus, OH with their 3 sons, Anthony, Sharod and Rashid. Their daughter, Paula was born in Columbus, Ohio. Rod affectionately referred to Yulonda as “Mommy”. His testimony of her was that she taught him how to love. Her testimony of him was that once he learned to love, he far exceeded her expectation in living it out. They truly lived a life in service to one another, determined not to let the other out-love them. It was evident to all that this was a match made in heaven. Rod was a doting and proud father of 5 children (one from a previous marriage who remained in California). Rod praised his children and instilled a love of God in them as well as superior moral and life lessons. He never missed an opportunity to teach his children how to become people who pleased God and excelled in life. When Anthony, Sharod and Paula began their music careers and Rashid began his sports career, he became their principal investor. He made sure that they had everything that he could possibly give them to be as successful as God and their talent would allow. Of the many accomplishments that his children achieved, he was most proud of the beautiful, upstanding people that they grew up to be. They were the jewels in his crown. His life lessons were not wasted on them. Rod gained 3 additional daughters (Lisa, Ciara and Iris) through his sons’ relationships. He said his sons chose well. He loved them and received them as his own children. He took those same lessons and taught many others as a boxing coach. Rod was a proud granddad with 9 grandchildren. He took those same lessons and began teaching them to his grandchildren as he shared special moments with each of them. He made it his business to share special moments with each one of them regularly. They lovingly called him “Poppa”. Rod began to become ill approximately 1 year prior to his final day on earth, but it wasn’t until February of 2021 that we discovered that he had inoperable liver cancer. Rod said that he wasn’t afraid or worried and that it was well with his soul, that he was at peace, and he was ready to go. He lived 1 ½ months after his diagnosis. His nurse said that she never saw nor heard of a stage 4 cancer patient that wasn’t on any pain medication. Rod was not in pain and did not suffer, which is a miracle. In his passing, God graciously gave him and his family several miracles and comforted them with that same peace. Preceding Roderick in death are his father, Paul O. Stevens and mother Wilhelmina Hammons, his Uncle James LeRoy Stevens and Mother-in-law Mildred A. Johnson. Those left to cherish his memory and pick up his mantle are his devoted wife and best friend of 37 years-Yulonda N. Stevens; 5 children Anthony I.R. Hendrix (Lisa Ervin, fiance’), Christian Paul Stevens, Sharod E. Stevens (Ciara Stevens wife), Rashid I. Stevens (Iris Gamble), and Paula H. Stevens; sister Yvonne F. Stevens; (whereabouts unknown for following brother and sisters) brother Paul O. Stevens, Jr. - Pasadena, CA; sisters Wilhemina and Delores whose maiden names are Davis; his Father-(in-law) James N. Johnson; grandchildren Anthony Hendrix, Rashida Stevens, Dorian Davis, Daylin Davis, Promyse Hendrix, Idris Stevens, Inari Stevens, Aria Stevens, Demetrius Davis; (3) sister-in-laws Willie Francine Jones (Eric Jones, husband), Larisa Anette Taylor, Carla Spears (Robert Spears, husband) a host of family by marriage of great nieces and nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends who witnessed his greatness, felt his love and loved him dearly and will truly miss his humor, friendship and impactful presence.