Cicely Bianca Rodgers

September 24, 1979 – September 09, 2024

Cicely Bianca Rodgers was born on a bright and beautiful Monday morning, September 24, 1979, in Portsmouth, Ohio. She was the firstborn child of Angela K. Robinson Rodgers and Kim M. Rodgers.

Raised in Honolulu, Hawaii and Virginia Beach, VA, Cicely was a 1997 graduate of Kellam High School in Virginia Beach. She attended Hampton University before relocating to New Orleans, LA and then Portland, OR. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Linguistics from Portland State University and continued coursework toward a Master’s of Education in Curriculum and Instruction while teaching math at Irvington Middle School.

Cicely was a consummate conversationalist, intellectually gifted, and a radical thinker who challenged others to always think outside the box. Every conversation undoubtedly led to gaining valuable new knowledge on a variety of subjects. Her kindness, emotional intelligence, and generosity of spirit contributed to the magnetic personality that drew people from all walks of life to her.

Cicely was indeed passionate in all her pursuits. A staunch community builder, she enjoyed nothing more than holding space for the marginalized among us. She lived her principles as a member of community-based, justice-focused organizations in Portland including KBOO public radio, the Women’s Resource Center at PSU, Portland Teacher’s Program, Sacred Lattice, Black Lives Matter Portland, and the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party (A-APRP). She truly walked the walk and encouraged us all to do the same. Cicely loved a good book, being in nature, communing with the ancestors, traveling the world, karaoke, being a pool shark and playing games with family and friends, tarot reading, good food (a “perfect bite”), collecting fountain pens, calligraphy, the arts, music, and so much more. She truly found joy in the simplest of life’s little pleasures and lived each day to the fullest!

On Monday, September 9, 2024, while in the loving arms of her family, Cicely made her transition ever so peacefully as she was called to rest. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Gordon G. Robinson and Hortense B. Robinson, Etherlene Ferguson and John Rodgers, Sr. She lives on in the hearts of her beloved parents, Angela K. and Kim M. Rodgers of Virginia Beach, VA, her cherished sister, Kimberly Afiya Rodgers of Washington, DC, her dear friend, Selin Strait, her faithful chihuahua Carrots, and a treasured tribe of aunts, uncles, cousins, and many, many wonderful friends.

In lieu of flowers the family is asking that people make contributions to the following scholarship fund:

https://www.pcc.edu/women/home/sylvania/deborah-evind-scholarship/contribute/