Obituary: Curtis "Cookie" Rodgers

Wide-eyed and charming, smiling with his mostly toothless grin, Curtis Rodgers, otherwise known as "Cookie" spent his last 11 years helping pack groceries at Pioneer supermarkets on Lafayette.

Cookie was recognized in the community as a friendly man, always willing to perform favors for a dollar or two. His managers said Cookie never missed a day and was present from the moment the store opened until well beyond the doors closing after the last costumer.  Cookie, who was about 57, died on Sunday, November 21st after working a full day at Pioneer. The cause of his death is currently unknown.

When asked the origin of Rodgers nickname 'Cookie,' brows knit as the myriad of men running Pioneer start to pull from stories Rodgers told.  One man spouts that he heard Rodgers was abandoned in an old cookie factory as a child, thus the name. Brian Espinal, a son of the family owned Pioneer, laughs as he remembers a tale that the nickname came from him growing up in a shelter where he used to get caught sneaking cookies from the kitchen cabinets.

The stories begin flying down the aisles of the grocery store about Cookie's elusive life, though no one person seems completely sure they can tell his tale properly. Different accounts of the man's younger life include a marriage to a successful lawyer and fathering a son and daughter.  Cookie fell into a life of drugs leading his family to eventually walk away from him and his bad habits. Espinal suspects he worked as an MTA employee for a while, as he flashed a badge around at times in the store.

Cookie had been a part of the community for at least 25 years, spending time packing at C-Town Supermarkets before switching to Pioneer in 1995.

Wayne "Tengo" McMitchell, front-end manager at Pioneer remembers the beloved grocery packer as funny, outgoing and very compassionate. "Cookie asked me about my kids first thing every day; he really cared," McMitchell said.  "He was the type of person that would cheer you up if you were down or angry," said Espinal.  When asked what he would miss the most about Cookie, he said, "His way of being; he would do anything if you asked."  In return for his gentle demeanor and helpful personality, his employers and friends kept him supplied with clothing and work. Rodgers claimed to have rented a room down the block from the store, but no one really knows if that was true.  He was frequently seen roaming the streets late at night and emerging early in the morning.

Shoppers leaving the store pause to look at "Cookie's cart," a small tribute to the kind-hearted grocer. The cart is overflowing with flowers as a dozen memorial candles flicker from the ground. Above hang a few photos and a note asking shoppers to donate to Rodger's funeral fund.  Inside Pioneer, an emptied water jug sits stuffed with money donated from the community to give Cookie a proper memorial. An onlooker, Miss, Bishop, said, "He always told me I looked beautiful.  He was a very friendly man, and he will be missed."

 Though any relatives of his own were absent, Rodgers seemed to have found a family in his time at Pioneer through his kind demeanor, which led to an incredibly strong bond with the customers in the neighborhood; Cookie was a true hustler with a heart.

Viewings for Curtis "Cookie" Rodgers were held at Dekalb Funeral Services located at 491 Dekalb Avenue on Tuesday, November 30th from 1:00-7:00pm and Wednesday, December 1st from 8-10am.