Ruby Hickox Rhodes UNDATED — Ruby Hickox Rhodes, 92, passed away peacefully at her new home in South Carolina on Monday, March 14, 2023. Originally from Blackshear, she later moved to Florida, as an adult, where she raised four children and later became a grandmother and eventually a great grandmother. Ruby 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. She 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, wonderful belly laughs, and so much more! Ruby Aline Hickox 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. She 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; 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 service was held at 10 a.m. today (Wednesday, March 22) at Ocean Park Baptist Church, 402 16th Avenue, South Jacksonville Beach, Fla., with Pastor Chris Partyka officiating. Following the service, the family will travel to the Pearson Dial Funeral Home, 659 Main Street in Blackshear for visitation from 3 to 4 p.m. today for family and friends 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.
