He was born on October 10, 1944 in Tuskegee to Lige Chappell and Savannah Smith Patrick. He was one of nine children born to this union. He confessed Christ at an early age and joined Antioch Baptist Church in Union Springs under his grandfather, the late Reverend Dudley Smith.

Chappell was employed with Tuskegee University and later worked and retired from Macon County Council Retardation and Recreational Activity Center (MCCRR). He spent a great deal of his employment years within the automotive and construction industries. He owned and operated Chappell Union 76 Service Station, Chappell Auto Repair and Chappell Construction until his health failed. Fate would have it that two of his sons, Rozell Jr. and Herman are partners in the automotive and construction businesses today.

In 1975, Rozell Sr. united with Annie Christine Kitt; together this union raised four children. Rozell Sr. leaves to cherish his memories three sons, Rozell (Jacqueline)Chappell, Jr., and Derrick Brown, Tuskegee; Herman (Pamela) Kitt, Fayetteville, Ga.; two daughters, Vinita (Sid) Little, Montgomery and Jennifer Brown, Tuskegee; four brothers, Lige Chappell, Jr., Dawson, Ga., L. C. Chappell, Winter Park, Fla., Curtis Chappell, Leesburg, Ga., and Leroy Chappell, Tuskegee; two sisters, Annie Ruth Chappell and Vanessa Chappell, both of Dawson, Ga.; two uncles, Dudley Smith, Jr., Tuskegee and Willie (Mary Helen) Daniel, Phenix City; five aunts, Mattie Wheat and Marie Platt both of Tuskegee, Alabama; Gladys Stewart, Union Springs; Susie Tolliver, Columbus; and Florine (Ken) McCall, Dallas; a devoted lady-friend Jill Brown; a host of grandchildren; cousins; other relatives and friends.