Born on December 6, 1948, in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, Roderick was the eldest child of Dr. James Burl Yeldell, Sr. and Gloria Clarice Sisson Yeldell. Raised in Greenville, MS, Rod embraced a life shaped by family, faith, and quiet steadiness. He attended Coleman High School, where he played football, and later continued his studies at Bishop College.

On February 18, 1978, Rod married Hermione "Linda" Threets, and together they shared 47 years of partnership, faithfulness, and enduring love. He was a devoted husband, a steady father, a loving grandfather, and a man whose gentle presence shaped his family in profound ways.

Rod worked as a prison guard for the Mississippi Department of Corrections at Parchman before relocating to Texas, where he served with Medical City Dallas Hospital Security Team. Later he became a certified wine taster and transitioned into retail sales, retiring in 2016. Through every role, he carried himself with calm dignity and a gentleman's courtesy.

He enjoyed life's simple pleasures: westerns, firearms, and a love for Star Trek. These quiet joys were his retreat and his rhythm.

Rod is survived by his beloved wife, Linda Yeldell; cherished and honored by his heirs ~

Children (3):
 TuYanda Threets Blackwell of Little Elm, TX; Ronando De Shawn Moore (Cinnamon) of Colorado Springs, CO; and Roderick Scott Yeldell II (Amanda) of Rosenberg, TX

Grandchildren (12)
 TuYanda: Jalil Blackwell, Jazmin Blackwell, and Jacara Blackwell
 Ronnie: Sloan (Andrew) Gonzales, Cinnamon Noelle Moore, Ronando Moore II, and Thaddeus Moore
 Scott: Aaliyah Yeldell, Dominic Yeldell, Braxton Bauermeister, Ashton (Sarah) Goar, and Teigan Yeldell

Great-Grandchildren (3):
 Ronnie: Rowen Gonzales, River Gonzales, and Aurora Smith-Moore

Rod also leaves behind his devoted sister, Iris Yeldell Stacker, and his nephew, Jarred Lamar (JoAnn) Stacker and their children of Greenville, MS; siblings, Ivy Ann (Steve) Allison of Atlanta, GA; Clay Yeldell of Greenville, MS; and Cynthia (James) Anderson of Nashville, TN, who shared with him a lifetime of family memories and connections.

Rod adored his cousins Jacquelyn Davis, Michele Sisson, and Toni (David) Sisson Abner, who were part of his extended circle of love. Many cousins, in-laws, and friends shared the rich fabric of his life and legacy.

Rod lived with humility, treated others with respect, and embodied a quiet goodness that spoke louder than words. His steady presence will be deeply missed, and his legacy will continue through the family who loved him dearly.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. James Burl Yeldell, Sr. and Gloria Clarice Sisson Yeldell; his brother, James "Jim" Yeldell, Jr.; his sister, Patricia "Pat" Yeldell; and by loved ones who have welcomed him home.