Update: Bessie Burial;Santos Rodriguez Family Fund

*Updated 12/01/23*

Hello Community,

As you all may have heard, unfortunately our beloved Bessie Garcia Rodriguez passed away on the night of November 29th, 2023.

Since the summer of 2020 this gofundme has served as an active donation place for Bessie, the mother of Santos Rodriguez. Everything from this fundraiser has gone directly into her account automatically over the last three years.

As we all know, the cost of burials are high and many have contacted me interested in donating to send Bessie off in the most deserving way. In order to ensure funds are accessible, I’ve logged in for the first time since 2020 to transfer bank info to her granddaughter (named Eva Garcia Rodriguez) who has been helping as one of sweet Bessie’s caretakers for the last couple years.

If you know the story of Santos Rodriguez you know how deserving this family is of love, support, and care. I will likely close the fundraiser after her burial, but we will always remember the names of Santos, Bessie, and the entire Rodriguez family. No family deserves to experience these tragedies. Please continue to pray for them and uplift their names and stories always.

Consider donating for the burial directly on other apps as gofundme does take a portion. Via venmo: @Angelina-Garcia79 or cashapp: $MrsGarcia79.

Hughes Funeral Home in Oak Cliff can be contacted for sympathy floral arrangements.

Thank you all for your support.

Bessie Garcia Rodriguez was born October 30, 1943, in Dallas, Texas. She passed away on November 29, 2023, in Dallas, Texas. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, Carlos & Benita Mendez; children, Santos Rodriguez, Robert Rodriguez, Juanita Guerra; siblings, Delia, Catalina, Susie, Irma, Antonio, Salvador, Cosme, Abraham, Jimmy, Simona.

She is survived by her children, Ruben Rodriguez and wife Marina Gonzalez, David Rodriguez and wife Daphne Poster, Maria Norma Aguirre; sister, Maggie Aguilar; 30 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandchild and many other loving family members and friends. 

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2020:

On July 24, 1973 the life of twelve year old Santos Rodriguez was brutally taken by Dallas Police Department. 

Many in Dallas know this tragic story and 47 years later we see that clearly not much has changed.

Since then his family and particularly his mother, 

Bessie Rodriguez have resiliently continued to push for justice and to keep Santos' memory alive. 

(Photo Credit: Dallas Morning News)

The aftermath of such traumatic events are simply intangible and the Rodriguez family was never awarded nor provided with any substantial compensation for Santos’ murder. We are asking the community to come together and help raise funds to provide financial assistance to cover basic needs for the family of Santos Rodriguez. We want to make sure his family knows they are not forgotten and more importantly that the community has their back. They deserve this and so much more. 

Please pitch in what you can. Every bit counts. 

Our sincere gratitude.

#SantosVive