William Roderick "Rod" Swoope

A Celebration of Life Service for Mr. William Roderick Swoope of Hillsboro will be 11:00AM Saturday May 9, 2026, at Mt. Olive Baptist Church with the Reverend Fred Jefferson officiating. Mr. Swoope will only have public viewing one hour prior to service at the church. 

William Roderick Swoope, a beloved son, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend, left this world too soon on Monday, April 27, 2026, at his home in Hillsboro, AL. Born on June 16, 1962 in Decatur, AL to Edna Louise Swoope and the late William Floyd Kee, he was affectionately known as Rod. He was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church, where he accepted Christ at an early age, and was a member until his untimely death. He was 63 years old.

His beloved daughter, Raven Symone Swoope; his brother, Anthony Maurice Balentine; niece, Alexis Kee-Veal; and his cherished grandparents, Joseph Swoope, Sr., and Pauline Odell Swoope, all preceded him in death. He shared an extraordinary bond with his grandmother, Pauline, lovingly called “Mama Sally,” whose face would light up with joy at his mere presence. Their relationship was one filled with love, laughter, and shared moments, from reading the newspaper as a young boy to enjoying a football game together in his later years. Mama Sally fondly nicknamed Rod “Roger Ramjet” from a classic animated cartoon from the 1960s, a tribute to his lively spirit, energetic nature, and unforgettable personality.

Rod was the life of every gathering, known for his exuberant personality and captivating ability to engage others. His infectious smile could brighten any room. Extremely intelligent and well spoken, Rod had a profound love for history and politics. In his heyday, he was always impeccably dressed and loved travel, professional sports, and sports cars. He embodied an energetic persona that brought every occasion to life. Golf was a passion he cherished deeply; whether hitting putts in the yard or teaching his grandsons to play, his enthusiasm was contagious. There was nothing more precious to him than his daughter, Avis, and his two grandsons, Carson and Dakota, who filled his heart with pride and happiness.

Rod graduated from East Lawrence High School in 1980 and briefly moved to Cleveland, Ohio, with his mother before returning to his hometown. He worked for 26 years at Champion Paper Company, which was later acquired by International Paper (IP) in Courtland, Alabama. He began his career in the Wood Yard and climbed the ranks to the Power House, ultimately transferring to Warner Robins, Georgia, where he enjoyed a rewarding retirement in 2017.

He is survived by his daughter, Avis Sherrell Fuqua Swoope, and his grandsons, Carson Malcolm Henderson and Dakota Marcellus Troupe, all from Decatur, whom he cherished deeply, his mother; Edna Louise Swoope, resides in Cleveland, Ohio, and his bonus mom, Clara Jean Kee-Johnson (Samuel) of Decatur, Rod’s siblings include; Cassandra Rogers (Marvin), Hillsboro; Leslie Lorenzo Kee, William Floyd Kee Jr., Carolyn Kee-Ayers (Roderick) and Kimberley Kee-Harden (Wendell), all of Decatur; aunts, Julie Spencer and Ruth Yarbrough (Carl), Cleveland, Ohio; and Viviane Boyd, Hillsboro, with whom he held a special bond; aunt, Clementine Swoope-Orr (Truel) who held a special place in his heart and he referred to her as “mama” of Trinity; great-aunt, Maggie Moore from Decatur; his close cousins, Pat Swoope-Jackson (Greg), Madison, and Mandel Swoope (Valerie), Trinity,  who were like siblings to him along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

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