BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – It’s been a decade since Rodreckus Johnson walked out of his house to attend a birthday party at an acquaintance’s house in the Powderly Community on November 22, 2003. He never returned home. The last thing that Rodreckus said to his mother, Carolyn Johnson was, “Ma, I will be back.” Ten years later, his mother is still haunted by those words.
Rodreckus was a 20-year old young man with a bright future. He was employed with the City of Bessemer Street and Sanitation Department and the CVS Distribution Center at the time of his death. He was a quiet, bashful and passive person. He wanted to live a good life. All he ever wanted was to get married and have children and come to his mother’s house for Sunday dinners, but that now will never happen for him. He lived in the Central Park Neighborhood, where the City of Birmingham has erected a memorial sign in his memory.
On Saturday, November 23, 2013, Rodreckus’ family held a balloon release in his memory, a prayer for justice and a plea to the public for answers in his murder case. The events took place at his gravesite at Highland Memorial Cemetery.
“I can’t believe it has been 10 years since I’ve last seen my baby or heard his voice. This is too much for me to deal with. I need to know who is responsible for taking him away from me. I need justice! I am tired of not knowing”, said Mrs. Johnson.
