Rodjie Marie Smith Stokes Johnson

Rodjie Marie Johnson Sunrise began on September 16, 1946, when she entered this world and began her journey of life. She was born in Dallas Texas to the late Charles Smith and the late Ernestine Maxine Watson Sanders. Rodjie’s early childhood was spent mostly with her grandparents the late Willie and Evangelist Janie Roy who were sharecroppers. She was the eldest of 8 siblings. She was raised in church, God and the Word were a big part of her life and upbringing.  She grew up in Texas and Arizona. Her mom would visit her and bring her brother, they would stay for a short time, so she did not get the opportunity to grow up with her siblings, but she was always so excited to spend time with them. For Rodjie, life was an adventure as they would move according to the season. She would often share the stories about her grandparents and how they were business owners in sharecropping and they would move around according to the work that was needed. 

The family continued to move West and finally made a home in San Francisco, California. Soon after they moved into a brand-new house in Vallejo, CA. Rodjie attended Vallejo Junior High School and Vallejo High School where she excelled in music singing in the choir. Her love for the piano was also a vital part of her life as her mother also played the piano and sang. She loved to play Volleyball, Badminton and many other sports but she really loved to dance. She knew all of the latest steps and enjoyed the Temptations whom she still recalls seeing in concert in purple suits and white shoes at the Cow Palace in San Francisco.

While in Junior High School, she first met Bob (Robert F. Stokes, Sr.) who would become her husband in the future. She would often tell her children about the time that their “Dad as a kid was throwing rocks at a cat only to find out it was a big rat and he took off running”. This story still brought a lot of laughter to her even in her later years. Because of her Grandfather's Auto Business, the family moved back to San Francisco, CA where she attended Mission High School and graduated in 1964. Rodjie will tell you that she wanted to start a family at a very young age because she wanted to grow up with her kids, and at Mission High School she met Ronald Bridges who became the Father of her first child Raychel Lanene born in 1964. Rodjie finally had the family she wanted, her very own baby girl, she was so elated at this little tiny bundle of joy and about being a mother.

Rodjie was far beyond her years, people would tell her that she should be a teacher, a nurse, or a housekeeper, but, Rodjie had bigger dreams, she was determined she wanted to help people. In 1965 Rodjie started attending San Francisco City College where she was studying to be a doctor. She was also a member of the College Chorus.  It was during this part of her life that she met her lifelong best friend Carolyn Powell. It was she that Rodjie called one day saying "Girl meet me downtown at City Hall" where she and her childhood sweetheart Bob (Robert F. Stokes, Sr.) were waiting to wed on December 12, 1965. Rodjie continued her college education to become a doctor.
In July 1966, Rodjie gave birth to a beautiful daughter Jane Adora. Rodjie’s life was full, raising 2 daughters. She and Bob would take them all over the city on their red and cream-colored motorcycle with their 2 children tucked between them, riding all over the city to places like the Cliff House, Playland, the roller skating rink, Golden Gate Park, just enjoying their family. Of course, today, Rodjie would say “We didn’t think about it back then, but, today please don’t try this feat at home”. Eventually, they purchased their first car and later a convertible with a real ragtop and plastic windows.

In December 1968, she welcomed her 3rd child Robert, Jr. and he was the delight of being the first boy in their family. Rodjie continued her education while working for Blue Cross Blue Shield, she did not become a doctor, but she became a licensed Psychiatric Technician working with patients in Mental Health. In July 1971 Rodjie gave birth to her 4th son a gorgeous baby boy Cavin David and before she knew it in September 1973 her 5th child arrived another beautiful boy, Larry (Darryl) Lawrence. As Rodjie raised the Stokes 5 in San Francisco, she loved that bunch, she exposed them to everything in the world, God, entrepreneurship, education, creativity, sports, and music, she told them that "no matter what there is nothing that they could not do, nothing they could not be, nothing will hold them back from success except for themselves not trying to excel and be their best”. Rodjie dedicated her life to being a fantastic and wonderful mother instilling the word of God in their lives.

Rodjie and Bob continued to raise their growing family in San Francisco until 1978, when the family moved to Atascadero CA, where Rodjie accepted a position as a Psychiatric Technician at Atascadero State Hospital. The family moved and were overjoyed that they did not live in a flat anymore but in a real house, a Doctor's House on the hospital grounds where no one lived above or below them. This was truly a new beginning for Rodjie and her family.

In 1979, Rodjie renewed her faith and rededicated her life to the Lord Jesus Christ, her new favorite song became  ‘Changed’. The Stokes Family began to attend church in Atascadero CA, but because the church was very small mostly made up of the Stokes Family they left and began to attend House of Prayer COGIC in San Luis Obispo CA at the invitation of a friend Carlene Dickerson.

 

Rodjie and her family became a foundational pillar at House of Prayer as she and her children joined the Choir, Youth, Usher, Sunday School, and Musicians Ministries. Rodjie instilled the values of the Word of God, love, and joy for others no matter who they were or where they came from. Rodjie became the Choir Director at House of Prayer in 1979 and she along with her husband and 5 children were all baptized together as a family in 1980. Rodjie's family continued to grow and she would support them in every school event in life.  She loved the Stokes 5 and was so proud of everything that they were doing, she often felt, that she would just fill them up with all the love she had missed out on growing up.

In 1981 Rodjie permanently relocated her family to San Luis Obispo, CA where she worked as a Social Services Manager for a private group and later for the Department of Social Services of San Luis Obispo County. Rodjie and Bob divorced in 1986.
Rodjie continued her love for education at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo pursuing a degree in Business and Psychology she also worked for the University in their Student Department. She was an integral part of the Cal Poly Community and would share the love of God with others and invite them to the House of Prayer, she was literally in the life-changing business. She became friends with many people and impacted their lives, so much so, that to this day many are ministers, pastors, evangelists or still serving in ministry today.

Rodjie stayed with the House of Prayer ministry until 1996 before moving to Germany due to marriage with her new husband. While in Germany her love for singing continued and she renewed her joy for playing the piano as she became the Pianist, Choir, and Praise Team Director for her church on Base in Vilseck Germany. There she met her friends Sharon and Louis Edwards who have been a huge part of her life and would remain friends with her for years to come. She loved to hear Sharon sing Order My Steps and said she would tear the song up every time. While in Germany she worked as a Civilian for the United States Army helping with transitions for soldiers' families who were being deployed. As a young woman she always wanted to travel, and because she lived in Germany God granted her the opportunity to achieve this dream as she would go to Poland and Switzerland often shopping for ceramics and crystal. She often shared her first experience on the Autobahn she said: "They were traveling in their car in the fast lane at 85mph and that was way too slow as the other cars would pass them driving over 100mph glaring and honking horns and shouting get off the road."  They learned the hard way how to drive the Autobahn.

It was while residing in Germany she was given the news that she had a dwarfed kidney and was in the early stages of renal failure. But you know Rodjie she took it to the Lord in Prayer and believed God for her total healing and she stood on the word of God and nothing could dissuade her.

 

Rodjie returned to the USA in 2000 and was posted at Ft. Stewart in Hinesville Georgia she was a vibrant part of her community speaking often on a local gospel station and being a part of 2 Church Ministries. She was very active as a Church Administrator, Choir Member, Director, Praise Team Singer, and more, she never stopped trying to reach others for the Lord Jesus Christ. In 2006, the newly single Rodjie relocated to Winston Salem GA at the request of her daughter and son-in-law. She became active singing again along with her daughter on the Praise Team at Word of Truth International Life Center. As Rodjie battled early Renal failure it began to take its toll on her body, one day “God sent an angel her name was Beverly,  when Rodjie fell out in a department store while shopping with her daughter. Beverly worked in a local dialysis center and she spoke to Rodjie and told her that she needed to consider becoming a patient so that she could be around to see her family continue to grow and succeed. That was a life-changing moment for Rodjie because she said she heard God’s voice speaking through Beverly. Rodjie was a patient at 3 different Dialysis Centers in the Triad, but her heart was at home at the Miller Street Dialysis Center where she became an intricate part of not only being a patient but also a voice, friend, confidant, singer, and prayer warrior to the staff and other patients.

In 2009, Rodjie moved to Kernersville NC, while living there she joined the Wesleyan Church where she fell in love with her Church Family. In 2010, Rodjie had a kidney transplant that lasted till 2016 when it was discovered that during the transplant the transplant team had injured the kidney. Rodjie had to go back on dialysis but she still trusted God for healing, she still praised him lifting his name on high, and sharing his goodness. 

She made many friends at Wesleyan, many members fell in love with her because often she was at their bedside in their final days or just being with them in their time of need singing, praying and reading the word of God or just sharing a laugh or two. Her Choir Director Pastor Don shared that Rodjie's faith was awesome.  She was very active in choir and had a beautiful alto voice.  She sang on the worship team.  Rodjie participated in the OASIS Senior Adult Ministry and was highly involved in all of the activities.  She loved going to the Daniel Boone Inn in Boone for the good old country food, especially their fried chicken.  

Rodjie stayed with Wesleyan until 2016 when she moved back to be with her daughter and son-in-law in Winston Salem NC. From 2018 to 2020 Rodjie enjoyed her independent living until she injured herself on a metal bedframe and developed septicemia. Not soon after her ability to walk was affected and eventually she ended up in the hospital until January 2021. At that time she went to a Rehabilitation Center until October 12, 2021 when she would tell everybody "that her daughter and son-in-law broke her out and saved her life". She moved in permanently with them and the trio was backed together again. Rodjie no longer had the ability to walk or stand on her own, she needed the assistance of a Hoyer lift and wheelchair to get around. Rodjie believed God that she would walk and be able to care for herself again, she trusted and stood on the word of God daily. Through everything that she experienced she never gave up, her faith never wavered on the fact that her body was completely healed. Even though she started to endure many health challenges and her body was failing, her faith continued to rise. She testified daily of his goodness, shared his love everywhere she went, looked after everyone who was within 5 feet of her, and always had a smile, song, or laughter to share. “People would say she just made you feel good just being around her.”

She was so proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and loved to brag and show them off to everyone. It was her desire to gather her family together at a holiday retreat and just love up on them. Rodjie was a spitfire of energy and love. She always had wisdom, a song, scripture, prayer, or word to share with those who surrounded her. She loved to watch a good movie or TV Show, study, and learn, you could often find her on the internet, listening to a video or studying her bible or reading, she loved people and enjoyed listening to them speak about themselves. Her personality often could be misunderstood, and her words often could be sharp, but one thing was for sure when she spoke you knew it, and the love that she had in her heart poured out daily and you felt it. "She lived life and she lived it well, she was a woman of faith and her circumstances in the end did not change any of that".  When she was in pain you could see it in her eyes but each morning she would greet her daughter with a smile and "Hi Baby". Rodjie was cared for by her daughter and son-in-law until her Sunset on August 20, 2023, when she went on to glory with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ..... and you know today she is singing, shouting, walking and running because Jesus Christ Changed her.

Rodjie Marie Stokes Johnson also known as Mom, Mommy, Ma and Nan,  is survived by her 5 Blessings, her legacy - her children and their spouses, daughters Raychel (Glenn) Small, Jane (Dave) Morgan, sons, Robert (Shawniqua) Stokes, Cavin (Yolanda) Stokes, Larry Darryl (Dawn Fiance) Stokes, Her pride and joy were her 20 grandchildren, Danielle, Glynnis (Jacob), Andrew David McIntyre, Brittany Small, Tasha, Drake (Leticia), Elias (Riley), Samuel, Monique, Simone, Dailyn, Brittany Stokes, Naloni, Kayla, Elaina, Nina, Kayia and the sparkles in her eyes her 8 great, grandchildren Elijah, Nico, Ares, Freyja James, Haven, Hassan, Harlem and Zemirah, her brother Larry Sanders (Doreen), her sisters Patti Depyster, Tammi Oatman, Ivy Sanders, her brother Bennett Sanders (Lorraine), her nieces Lanette, LaSharma, Rodji, Chee, Ashanti, nephews Ernesto, Kwanna, Travon, Mark, a host of great nieces, great nephews, great, great nieces and nephews, beloved family and dear friends,
She was preceded in death by her ex-husband Robert F. Stokes, Sr., her granddaughter Jade Stokes, her mother Rev. Dr. Ernestine Sanders, and sisters Cheryl Oatman and Dr. LaTonja Richardson.