Jerrode Cedell Suggs

Jerrode Cedell Suggs was born February 17, 1970 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His parents, Elaine nee Phillips and Jimmie Suggs, gave him a middle name that had also been the middle name of his father and grandfather. Jerrode grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Barely 2 years old, he made his screen debut in the closing credits of a WITI- TV6 documentary, "Milwaukee Soul, Then and Now," a history of African Americans in Beer Town. He smiled in a close up, then turned and toddled down a sidewalk, holding his grandmother's hand. A star was born in 1972.

Jerrode regularly attended St. James United Methodist Church with his paternal grandparents.

Jerrode learned to cook before he could read, a skill he would later put to good use as a professional cook.

Affectionately called Boog, by his mom, Jerrode began a library .. children's books at first, that aged as he did. Stephen King and other masters of horror and mystery were his favorites.

Like his dad, Jerrode was fascinated by astronomy. He loved attending the annual Christmas "star" show at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee planetarium.

Jerrode moved with his dad and grandfather to the San Francisco Bay area of California. There he attended junior and high school before moving south to Bakersfield Jerrode met Maribel Rivera in Bakersfield where both were attending Bakersfield College. Their marriage produced Alezae and Kristile.

Jerrode held a wide variety of jobs as he pursued his creative passions; music, designing clothes, and writing. He worked as a short order cook, forest firefighter, construction worker. He was very good with his hands, creating beautiful jewelry boxes and clocks that he gave away as gifts. Jerrode performed in his own rap group. They toured clubs nationwide as they worked on an album. He still found time for God, attending Friday services at the Church of the Nazarene and Sunday mornings at The Living Victory Church. 2020 was a busy year for Jerrode. He worked on several novels and screenplays. He produced inspirational videos. On January 18th of this year, he reached out, at the suggestion of Maribel, to a youth group, offering his services as a counselor. Jerrode had established the Socks Foundation, a not for profit to provide socks for the homeless. Jerrode was scheduling the Foundation's first sock give away when he died unexpectedly Saturday, January 30, 2021 in Bakersfield, California. He is survived by his children Alezae and Kristile and his granddaughter, Annalise. He is also survived by his mother, Elaine C. Phillips; sister Madaleine Suggs; and brother Mark A. Phillips, all of Milwaukee, WIsconsin. Also in his Milwaukee family: Aunts Gail Gabnt, Gloria Gant, Raymel Gant and Verrita Hill; Uncles Albert E. Phillips and Great Uncle Archie Lee. Also a host of nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, dear friends and co-workers from California, New York and Wisconsin. He was preceded in death by his father Jimmie Cedell Suggs.