Rodney Eugene Dunwoody

Rodney Eugene Dunwoody, born on May 10, 1946, in Miami, FL, was a beloved son of the late Ralph and Bloneva Dunwoody, and later cherished stepson of Georgia May Dunwoody. Rodney was the second of five children and was preceded in death by his brothers Ralph Jr. and Ronald, and sister Norma. As a child, Rodney attended St. Agnes Episcopal Church with his grandmother in the Overtown neighborhood of Miami. Rodney was educated in the Miami-Dade County Public School system and attended Booker T. Washington High School. After high school, Rodney began his career with the City of Miami-Dade Solid Waste Management Department. On December 24, 1969, Rodney married Gwendolyn Osborne, the love of his life, and from this union they welcomed one child, Rodney E. Dunwoody, Jr. Rodney dedicated 25 years of service to the City of Miami-Dade Solid Waste Department as a truck driver. He often took Rodney Jr with him on his daily routes during school breaks; memories that became treasured moments for them both. Through his honesty, diligence, and commitment, he built a legacy of hard work and deep loyalty to his community. A long-time resident of the neighborhood of Brownsville, Rodney was an active member of the Brownsville Civic Association and was always willing to lend a helping hand. Rodney was an avid gardener with a knack for growing almost anything. He took great joy in sharing his knowledge and passion with his friends and young cousins, often teaching them how to care for and nurture their vegetables, especially collard greens and tomatoes. Rodney also enjoyed pre-dawn fishing with his close friends Robert Dunn, Eugene “Black Jack” Robinson, George Dean, and others at their favorite spots around Miami, including the bridges on Key Biscayne and behind the former Miami Herald newspaper building. On family vacations, Rodney enjoyed traveling to Sanford, FL, visiting family and spending time fishing with his father, Ralph. Rodney loved football! There was always a game playing on his TV. He loved the sport at every level, but his favorite professional team was the Kansas City Chiefs. Rodney was never one to shy away from friendly competition; whether it was checkers, cards, or dominoes, he was always ready. He had a passion for learning about people and things, focusing mostly on engineering and machinery, especially different types of vehicles. Rodney enjoyed collecting coins, football trading cards, and poring over player stats. Wherever Rodney traveled, he made sure to bring home a baseball cap from the local sports team. He also collected some pretty rare and obscure comedy albums that showed off his sense of humor. Rodney is survived by his loving wife, Gwendolyn Dunwoody and son Rodney Jr., his Brother, Fred Brooks, Sister, Rosalyn Dunwoody, and a host of relatives and friends who will forever cherish his memory.

Tributes

Rodney Eugene Dunwoody

February 24, 2026