One of the best sons
Kind, loving, and gentle, Cody was loved by everyone who met him. You could often find Cody outdoors, fishing, swimming, boating, and hunting, or spending time with his dog, Cali. When his mother, Teshia, thinks back to her favorite memories of Cody, they are times at their hunting lease when Cody was a child. She also has a fond memory of a time Cody was in Austin. He parked his truck in a parking garage and left it running with his dog locked in it. When he got to his truck, it was gone. Panicked for losing his dog, he looked around only to find he was in the wrong parking garage!
The family had a wonderful time during Cody’s final two years of life when he was sober. Cody now valued spending time with them after losing seven years to addiction. He spent a lot of time with his brothers, Chris, Patrick, and Matthew and with his sisters, Christina, Jennifer, and Alanna, his stepfather, Marvin, who he dearly loved, and his numerous nieces and nephews. “Cody had so many plans for the future,” his mother, Teshia, stated. “He talked about life with his girlfriend, Joi, and what they wanted to accomplish.” Their six-month relationship was getting serious, and Teshia believes they would have been married within the next year or so. Cody also had one son, Corbin, still born in 2012.
Cody had a passion for his career as a cell phone tower foreperson. Always seeking a thrill, his colleagues said he was the best in his field and loved being “on top of the world” on the towers. He loved anything fun, fast, and exciting.
It was hard to set boundaries with Cody, his mother said, “Cody was so loved by all of us, he was caring and kind, even in active addiction, which make boundaries very challenging.” Cody’s death also had a profound impact on his close friend Randy. Through their sober and active addiction times, they were always there for each other. “I would like to think that the influence Cody had on Randy’s life will make him grow into a better person for his family and children,” Teshia shared.
“What we went through with Cody changed me in one way or another,” Teshia offered. “I feel lost even though I have so much family surrounding me. His death made me cherish people more. We are never promised another day. Cody’s death taught us the reality of that.” Teshia now attends events about addiction and volunteers to speak about fentanyl awareness. “He was one of the best sons.”
Cody’s mother, Teshia Randall, provided the information for this narrative.
December 7, 1990-June 4, 2023-Age 32
Portrait Artist: Jeremy Hebbel
Narrative Writer: Barbara Francois
