Mr. Rodney Marcellus Harleston, 59
Services for Mr. Rodney Marcellus Harleston, 59, who died Nov. 18, were held Nov. 16 at Saint Philip AME in Atlanta with the Rev. William D. Watley, senior Pastor, and Minister Larry Lee, Officiant. Burial was in Fairview Memorial Gardens, Stockbridge.
Mr. Harleston was born March 19, 1959, to Vernon and Dorothy Harleston and raised in Hazlehurst where he was a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. He graduated from Jeff Davis High School, received a Bachelor of Social Work from Fort Valley State College, and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Michigan. He interned at the Department of Family and Children Services in Hazlehurst.
He worked at Rehabilitation Center for Substance Abuse in Jesup, and as a social worker at Hillside Youth Behavioral Center with the Atlanta Public Schools for 25 years. He was awarded the 2005 School Social Worker of the Year and the 2018 Assistance League National Operation School Bell Award.
In 1994 Rodney married Cheryl Denise Moore-Jackson and settled in Ellenwood. Their home was a welcoming place for family and friends for over 24 years, hosting a lavish Christmas dinner and having family and friends over to decorate his 20-ft. Christmas tree. He was a master chef and loved grilling world class barbecue. His hobbies included fishing and gardening, he enjoyed working in his yard and watching old westerns. He was a die-hard Falcons fan and was a season ticket holder. He loved his dogs, most recently Cleopatra “Cleo” and Bo.
Survivors include his wife, Cheryl Denise Harleston; sons Courtney Jarod Harleston and Mario Manuel Jackson; mother Dorothy Scott Harleston; sisters Debra Harleston Chandler (Ransom), Myra Harleston Mills (Ronald); father-in-law Samuel A. Moore Sr. (Pearl); sister-in-law Deirdre Anderson; brother-in-law Phillip “Tracy” Harper (Vera); sister-in-law Yolanda Hicks; brothers-in-law Samuel Moore Jr. and Darryl Moore (Arnetta); uncles Donald Scott, Dr. Bernard Harleston (Marie), General Robert Harleston (Sheila), Walter Harper, Joseph Moore (Hattie); aunts Lillian Scott, Betty Kornegay, Bernice Shumake, Cleavie McDonald; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Pallbearers were Marvin Kornegay, Michael Kornegay, Benjamin Griggs, Eric Thornton, Donald Wortham and Larry Riley.
Flower bearers were nieces.
Gregory B. Levett and Sons Funeral Homes and Crematory was in charge.
