Mazharel Joneesh Rodriguez

Macha and Michael Rodriguez were blessed with the birth of Mazharel Joneesh Rodriguez, in San Diego California May 29, 1986.  Mazharel was very gifted with various talents and extremely funny. She had the confidence to do a standup skit at the Comedy Store and was asked to return.  She then went on to audition for Universal Studios and the monologue she chose was I Love Lucy’s “Vitameatavegemin” from beginning to end. They loved her so much that they tried to convince her to pursue an acting career.  This was just her enjoying life and who she was.  Mazharel was always thoughtful and considerate of other individuals’ feelings, and always willing to help. Mazharel was a rare soul! She would go to great length to tell you she’s sorry if she felt that she may have hurt you in any way. Mazharel pursued her interests and passions with confidence and an unbelievable determination. She was self-taught on instruments like the clarinet, guitar and bass but her true love was the drums. Little known fact about Mazharel was that she was in an all-girl punk band called The Fashioned.

After graduating from Murrieta Valley High School in 2004, she went on to study and receive a degree in Microbiology at Cal State University San Marcos but found her true calling in Marketing and Public Relations at Middle Tennessee State University soon after moving to Nashville. Shortly after graduating, she set her sights on making her mark in the industry. Working with companies such as TNA Wrestling as a Public Relations Coordinator and as a PR Consultant with Biff Bangs Entertainment. She was then an ambassador and volunteer at Donate Life America as well as a Biomedical Field Marketing and Communications Intern at the American Red Cross while pursuing her Master of Science degree in Media and Communication. Once receiving her Masters, she landed the career of her dreams as a Public Relations Manager at American Addiction Centers.

As many know, Mazharel was blessed with receiving a double lung transplant at Vanderbilt University on January 17^th, 2013, after battling Cystic Fibrosis for a long and arduous period of time. After that life-changing surgery, she began to live life with no limitations. Her first “treat,” as she would put it, was to make one of her dream vacations come to life and spend 2 weeks in London England with her sister. On top of her love for playing various instruments, Mazharel had a very active schedule. She loved going to concerts, cooking, participating in karaoke or trivia nights and spending as much time as she could at the zoo, aquarium and the Gentle Barn just to name a few places. On top of everything, Mazharel loved volunteering her time with her church groups and shelters over the years, helping anyone in need, spending as much time with those she loved and not to mention her devotion to the Lung Transplant group formed by Vanderbilt.

My Wel, Love Mommy,

I love you with every fiber of my being. You were a mommies girl. You loved me so much and I always knew it “Wel!” All you wanted was to take care of me. What a wonderful and amazing soul God blessed my life with. I will miss your crazy saying to me, “that’s good for you!”. I was blessed to be there when you entered this world, and it was an unbelievable honor to be with you when the Lord called you home. Your heart was full of joy, truth, integrity, discipline, strength, honor and compassion for love. We had the most amazing and beautiful Mother and Daughter love that could be imagine. I loved when you disagreed but realizing truth and what is right, you would accept.  You carried this in your heart walking through life, because you knew Jesus Christ was about righteousness. You are and will always be my precious sweet “Wel”.

Mazharel is preceded by her grandmothers Katherine “Mama” Williams and Georgiana “Joy” Rodriguez and cousin Jabarri Anderson. She is survived by her parents, Macha and Michael, brother, Wayne Duncan, sister, Shoni Rodriguez-Rucker, and a nephew on the way, uncles Earnest “Bubba” Anderson, Angelo Russell, Alphonso Boone and Maurice Rodriguez; Aunts Freda Anderson, Carina Russell, Terri Tunstall, Diane Rodriguez, and Toni Russell; cousins Malik Anderson, Robert Hall JR, Vontique, Vaya Boone, Romesha Sanders, Marisha, Leah, Dejahne, Alana and “baby” Angelo Russell, Reanna, Javone and Jami Coleman, Alphonse and Xavier Anderson, and Rochelle Steele.

Services will be held at Glendale United Methodist Church on January 17^th, 2024, followed by a procession to her resting place at Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens Funeral Home. Flowers can be sent to the church or donations can be made to the Lung Transplant Foundation or Donate Life America, two organizations Mazharel supported and felt strongly about.