Rodney Michael Snow, MD, was born April 15, 1944, the first and only child of Lois and Fayette Snow, of Bessemer, Alabama. At the age of 78, Rodney passed away unexpectedly Thursday, December 1, 2022, in Birmingham, Alabama, surrounded by his loving family.
Rodney is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mary Hartley Snow of Birmingham, his daughter, Andrea ‘Andi’ Snow Longsworth, married to David Chaplin Longsworth, of Fort Worth, Texas, and son Bradley Michael Snow, MD, married to Heather Marlow Snow, of Greenville, South Carolina and by grandsons Noah Michael Snow, Matthew Bradley Snow, Andrew Michael Longsworth and William Snow Longsworth.
Rodney grew up in Bessemer, Alabama, graduating from Bessemer High School in 1962. On December 13, 1963, Rodney married Mary Hartley, from Adger, Alabama, his high school sweetheart. He pursued his college degree at The University of Alabama graduating in 1965. He continued to earn his Medical Degree at the Medical School of Birmingham (UAB) graduating number one in his class of 1969.
After graduation, Rodney did an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Carraway Methodist Hospital followed by a fellowship at UAB in infectious disease under Dr. Glen Cobbs. He chose infectious disease as his specialty in medicine because he loved the investigative process that leads to problem solving. Rodney began his practice in 1974 and was still treating patients two days a week until his death.
Rodney served as an officer in the Army National Guard for 14 years. He maintained an active practice at Carraway Methodist and Princeton Hospital. For the last 22 years of his practice, Rodney followed his passion for wound care. Rodney started the wound care clinic at Princeton where his impact in the community was tremendous. He was passionate about his patients’ care and overall wellbeing – working to give his patients all the knowledge they needed to get healthy from the ‘critters,’ as he commonly referred to disease causing pathogens.
With a strong Christian faith, Rodney believed in God’s healing power and presence in all he did – ‘Footprints’ by Margaret Fishback Power was his favorite poem. He served as a mentor and teacher to the medical community on diseases and their prevention. While serving on the Board of Admissions at UAB Medical School for 13 years, he would encourage prospective students to always do their best. His final question to prospects was to share a story about a role model in their life. Many prospective students shared stories about grandparents, which impacted Rodney’s perspective as a loving father, and most importantly as a loving, supportive, and encouraging grandfather to his four grandsons.
Alabama Crimson Tide was another passion of Rodney’s. It was a passion that he shared with his family his whole life. He was a true fan that cheered on his team in all sports no matter what. Another one of Rodney’s loves was music—gospel, country and 60’s classic rock was his favorite. And his favorite band was The Eagles. He was able to attend their concert on November 25, 2022, in Fort Worth, Texas, with his daughter Andi and grandson William, while celebrating Thanksgiving with his daughter’s family.
In addition to his love of God, family, medicine, and music, Rodney loved this country. He strongly believed in the importance of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the freedoms that we share as Americans.
A memorial service will be held at Mountain Brook Baptist Church on December 10, 2022, at 1:30 pm in the sanctuary. A visitation will follow in Hudson Hall.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests charitable donations be made to Big Oak Ranch or Mountain Brook Baptist Church.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.17