Melvin E. "Tony Roc" Rodwell

Melvin Eddie “Tony Roc” Rodwell transitioned to eternal rest on December 13, 2023, in Columbia, South
Carolina.
Tony was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, to the late Mary E. Rodwell Floyd and Melvin Hicks, Sr., on
January 26, 1951. He was the eldest of his mother’s nine children. Tony graduated from I. C. Norcom
High School in Portsmouth, Virginia, in 1970. While at I. C. Norcom, he excelled in track. He married
Vinell Bailey Burrus (Luther) in 1973; they were married for nine years. Tony was a member of the Air
National Guard and, in the early 1980s, was a deputy for the Portsmouth Sheriff’s Office. Tony worked
for over a decade at the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia. He spent many
years working in security and loss prevention positions, which was his passion. He ended his work career
with the City of Virginia Beach Parking Enforcement in 2016.
Tony LOVED all genres of music and managed the singing group, CaReam for many years. He enjoyed
spending time at the American Legion Post and was a long-time fan of the Washington Commanders. He
was quick-witted and hilarious, and kept those around him laughing.
Tony leaves to cherish his memory, his children, Asha Rodwell Moses (Howard), Melvin Crawley,
Shavon Rodwell Brown (Shannon), Dana Rodwell Hamlin (Ivan), and Sterling Reed-Rodwell, Sr.; his
grandchildren, Tyler, Malik, Melvon, Christopher, Makayla, Zorey, Lamonie, and Sterling, Jr.; five sisters,
Maggie Hicks, Margie Tatem (Leonard), Geraldine Rose (Robert), Patricia Copeland, and Margaret
Drummond; two brothers, Anthony Hicks and Elmer V. Floyd, Jr.; his long-time partner, Cheryl Perry, her
children, Janae Perry and Michael Perry (Monique), and her grandchildren; as well as a host of nieces,
nephews, cousins, aunts, and uncles.
Tony was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Valerie Greene, Barbara Floyd, and Carrie Joyner,
his brother, Melvin Hicks, Jr., and his grandson, Mekal.

A celebration of life will be held 12:30pm, Saturday, December 23, 2023 at Crocker Funeral Home, Suffolk, VA. Tony Roc will be laid to rest at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, Chesapeake, VA. Professional services with dignity have been entrusted to Crocker Funeral Home, Inc.