SOUTH CAROLINA — Ruby Hickox Rhodes, 92, passed away peacefully Tuesday, March 14 at her new home in South Carolina3.
Originally from Blackshear, Mrs. Rhodes later moved to Florida as an adult where she raised four children and later became a grandmother and eventually a great-grandmother.
Mrs. Rhodes was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She led the family with her strong faith and love for Jesus which was evident in her daily life. Mrs. Rhodes was kind, caring and compassionate and would help any person or animal in need.
She enjoyed music, dancing, gardening, movies and doing puzzles. But, her favorite activity definitely was spending time and making memories with her grandchildren. We will miss her kind spirit, her positive, happy personality, her comforting and encouraging hugs, her fabulous sense of humor and wonderful belly laughs, and so much more.
Mrs. Rhodes was born on August 5, 1930 to William Walter and Ida Belle Altman Hickox. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Milton O. Rhodes; her daughter, Donna Lissie Shanks; and her eight siblings, Mollie Elizabeth Hickox, Macy Colisty Hickox, William Hyson Hickox, Wilma M. O’Quin, Leroy Eugene Hickox, Lissie Belle Carley, Arnie Wilson Hickox and Wilbur Vernon Hickox.
Mrs. Rhodes is survived by two daughters, one son and one daughter-in-law, Deborah C. Shanks of Little River, S.C.; Renae M. Dowling of Little River, S.C.; and Ed Klein III and Patsy Klein of Crawfordville, Fla.; six grandchildren, Lauren Alene, Collin Reid, Brooke Lynnae, Ashton Riley, Nicole Kathleen and Eddie Klein IV; four great-grandchildren, Tyler, Jayla, Brody and Lucious; a sister-in-law, Lenora Rath of Jacksonville Beach, Fla.; nephews, Darrell Merculieff (wife-Shirley) of Ocala, Fla. and Roy Hickox of Hortense; nieces Sharon Cellemme of Powder Springs, Ga. and Freida Jacobs of Waynesboro, Ga.; and numerous cousins and friends.
Funeral services will be held today (Wednesday, March 22, 2023) at 10 .m., at Ocean Park Baptist Church in Jacksonville Beach, Fla.
Pastor Chris Partyka will be officiating.
Following the service, the family will travel to the Pearson-Dial Funeral Home in Blackshear to hold a Visitation/Viewing from 3 p.m.-4:00 p.m., for family and friends who live in Georgia. Interment will be at High Bluff Cemetery.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online register at www.pearsondial.com.
Pearson-Dial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
