Rodney Allan Teasley

Rodney Allan Teasley was born June 25, 1968 in Athens, Georgia and will be laid to rest on January 19, 2026.

The family will receive friends Sunday, January 18, 2026 from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM at Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, WEST, 1211 Jimmy Daniel Road, Watkinsville, A Graveside Service will be held Monday, January 19, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Iva City Cemetery, Park Drive, Iva, South Carolina 29655. A Memorial Service will be held Monday, January 19, 2026 at 3:00 PM at Chapelwood United Methodist Church, 100 Janice Drive, Athens, GA 30606.

Rod graduated from Glynn County High School, Brunswick, Georgia. An accomplished pianist, he was accepted into college on a full scholarship for music performance before deciding to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1992 as a Second Lieutenant. After serving in the U.S. Army, he was accepted into Harvard Law School, where he studied corporate law. After graduating, he practiced law in Georgia before moving to Texas. While in Texas he met and married a bright young woman in the field of medicine named Gabriela who became the mother of his son, Liam (11), and who greatly influenced him to change his field from law to medicine.

Rod completed medical school at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, WA, subsequently completing medical residency in Otolaryngology (ENT) at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. While in Nashville, he met the love of his life Margaret, an artist and nonprofit development professional working to advance public education access and quality. Margaret and Rod moved back to Seattle together, to be near his son, Liam. They later married and were blessed with two daughters, Vivian (4) and Georgia (2).

Rod was committed, in his medical practice, to honoring his Christian faith by working with a religiously affiliated hospital and serving vulnerable populations. Many of his patients were under-resourced, publicly insured, and required interpreters to access care. His work was often challenging, demanding long hours and expert navigation of complex systems to ensure his patients the best care possible. When things got particularly challenging, his sense of purpose and feeling that he was truly making a difference in his patients’ lives helped him soldier on. Rod was beloved by his colleagues, with the head of his surgical team reflecting that “Rod’s moral compass always pointed north, he made everyone he worked with better.”

Rod was an accomplished athlete. He completed two Ironman triathlons. He was an avid skier, sailor, skydiver and in 2012 he summited Mount Rainier in Washington. Rod took great pride in sharing his love of sports with his children but especially his son Liam. They loved watching Georgia football together, shooting hoops at the local park, and skiing the Washington slopes. Rod greatly admired Liam’s athleticism and sportsmanship on the basketball court and soccer field.

Rod always had a thirst for knowledge. He was ever curious about how things worked and was a skilled tinkerer and repairman, often repairing his own cars and other equipment around the house. Once he literally tore apart his mother’s television, lining parts up from the den to the kitchen, replaced the picture tube and put it back together so that they could both watch a series that night. Rod’s eldest daughter, Vivian, was always his apprentice, wanting to learn all about his tools and how she could help him with the task at hand. A couple of weeks before his passing, Vivian worked by his side handing him tools and peppering him with questions while he re-assembled her brand-new big girl bunk bed. His inquisitiveness and enthusiasm for learning new things shines brightly in his little girl. In turn, he would often remark with awe on how much of himself he saw emerging in his youngest daughter, Georgia – her raw energy, resourcefulness, empathy, and stubbornness all reflect her father. Rod’s greatest joy and legacy is in his three beautiful children.

Rod is survived by his wife Margaret Teasley, son Liam, daughters Vivian and Georgia, mother Vivian S. Teasley, brother Jeff (Susan) Teasley, sister Terri Teasley (Larry), and three nephews Sam and (Lindsey) Teasley, Daniel Teasley, Carson Miller, and niece Leah Melton.

Rod was preceded in death by his father R. J. Teasley, Sr.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail”- Lamentations 3:22-26

In lieu of flowers, donations in Rod's name may be made to a charity of your choice.

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, WEST, is in charge of arrangements.