Rodney Eugene Speed

Rodney Eugene Speed (“Speed”, “El Roddo Speedo”, “Rod”) was the first of 4 children born to Albert A. Speed and Margaret Lucile Adams Speed. Rodney relished his first born position. The product of a military family, Rodney was educated in many schools across the U.S. and even in the Philippines. He graduated from Frank W. Ballou High School in Washington D.C. in 1973. As a resident of the District of Columbia, Rodney received a Presidential nomination to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He entered and completed his plebe summer in 1973; however, the Academy was not to be his home. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in March 1974, and served until discharged in 1980. During his military service, Rodney was assigned to numerous ships including the USS Nimitz. On the Nimitz, Rodney completed multiple tours to the Mediterranean, taking the opportunity to explore Lisbon, Portugal, and Rota, Spain, among other destinations he called his favorites.

Photography was always his passion and Speed Photo existed from 1985 until Rodney transitioned in November. Rodney used his photography skills in many civilian positions for both the U.S. military and the private sector. For the military, Rodney served as an Audiovisual Production Specialist for the U.S. Army, and a Photographer for the U.S. Air Force, He was assigned to Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, Fort Eustis in Virginia, and most recently, to Robin’s Air Force Base in Georgia.

As a civil servant Rodney was an experienced broadcast news engineer and live shot photographer. He held positions at NBC News Channel 4 in Washington D.C., WTTG Fox 5 television in Washington D.C., University of Maryland‘s Flagship Channel, the University of the District of Columbia’s Educational Channel, the Cable Programming Division of the Office of Consumer Affairs for Fairfax County, Virginia, the District of Columbia Office of Cable Television, Prince George’s County, MD Television, CTV, and Montgomery Community Television, among others.

Rodney was a car enthusiast, and the Chevy Corvette was his vehicle of choice. He was blessed to have owned four of them throughout his life, trading one for the next and the next. He loved NASCAR and motorcycles and was able to incorporate these various interest in his travels. 

Rodney was a learner and a scholar throughout his entire life. He was no prouder than when he accomplished his lifelong goal and received his Bachelor of Science in Management Studies in 2022, and his Master’s of Business Administration and Management in 2023, both from the University of Maryland Global Campus. Rodney was pursuing his Doctorate in Business Administration and Management from the same institution when he transitioned.

Rodney accepted the Lord some 30 years ago and was baptized into the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church as an adult. Rodney, rededicated his life to the Lord at Soteria Christian Center. Rodney was a voracious reader and his appetite included studying the Bible. He was secure in his relationship with Christ.

Rodney is survived by his son, Albert Thomas Ramey-Speed, his bonus son, Robert Ramey, his siblings, Alfreda Banks (Ralph), Michael Speed, and Regina Speed-Bost (Mark Bost), nieces, Ryan Banks, Amber Chavarria (Vicente), and Ariel Bost, nephew, Avery Bost, grand nieces and nephews, Alicia, Vicente Jr., Alyvia, and Amir, aunts and a host of cousins, as well as other family members and friends.

A memorial service celebrating the life of Rodney Eugene Speed will be held on Friday, December 20, 2024, at Soteria Christian Center, 23 Henry Ford Circle, suite C, Waldorf, MD 20602, from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. Family and close friends are invited to join as we fondly remember our beloved father, brother, nephew, and dear friend. The brief memorial service will be live streamed and available on YouTube @soteria_cc.

Expressions of sympathy and condolence and fond memories can be shared on the McCullough Funeral Home's memorial page for Rodney Eugene Speed.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the State of Maryland National Association for Black Veteran's memorial page for Rodney Eugene Speed.