Eddie L. Hooks-Rodgers was born February 13, 1948, in York, Alabama to the late, Barbara L. Hooks-Rodgers.

He grew up on his grandparents farm in York until he was 12 years old. At this time Eddie, his mother, her husband, Jimmie L. Rodgers, and his sister, Gloria moved to Akron, Ohio.

Eddie graduated from Butchel High School in 1966, at the age of 17. In 1967, on his 18th birthday, he received draft papers from the Army. He spent 2 years in Vietnam. After returning home, his mental health struggled severely.  Due to this mental trauma, he had a very hard time readjusting to a normal way of life. Eddie spent a long time in and out of VA Hospital’s, however they were no help for the  flashbacks he suffered.

Eddie was preceded in death by his grandparents, Nelson and  Charlotte Hooks of York, AL; mother, Barbara L. Hooks-Rodgers of Akron, OH; aunts, Evelyn Hooks-Brown of Saginaw, MI, Johnnie Hooks-Allen of Rockford, IL; Marjorie Hooks-Ward of Rockford, IL and Ollie Mae Hooks-Cobman of York, AL.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his dad, Jimmie Lee (Donzella) Rodgers of Akron, OH; sisters, Gloria Hooks Rodgers-Chandler of Columbus, OH and Chole (Korey) Lewis of Ashland, VA; brothers, Pastor Jimmie K. Rodgers of Akron, OH and Dominique (Nadia) Rodgers of MD; special cousins, Barbara Workman of Mel, MI, Doc (Harriet) Ward Jr. of Rockford, IL and Larry (Trish) Ward of Chicago, IL; niece, Jessica (Roger) Chandler-Hernandez of Columbus, OH; nephews, Lemual R. Chandler of Columbus, OH and Robert (Ruth) Chandler of Columbus, OH; as well as a host of family and friends.