Elizabeth Rhodes

“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.”

ELIZABETH RHODES, daughter to the late Annie Parker, began her walk of life on February 29, 1932, in the Town of Enfield North Carolina, the oldest town in Halifax County.

Her early education was obtained through Enfield Public Schools.

She relocated to the City of Portsmouth, Virginia in approximately July 1949. Mother Rhodes accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at an early age. Her last church membership was at Holy Light Church of Deliverance, Portsmouth, Virginia, in which she joined in November of 1975. At Holy Light she remained a loyal, faithful and a dedicated member serving on the Gospel Choir, the Mature Saints Committee, and the Hospitality Committee greeting members and visitors alike with a warm hug and a beautiful smile until her health declined. Mother Rhodes loved Sunday School and attended faithfully.

She was a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Everyone was always made to feel welcome in her home. She was an excellent homemaker and always involved in the domestic work to assist and care for her family. Everyone always had a welcome seat at her table.

She was married by Reverend S.L Scott of 4^th Baptist Church, Portsmouth, Virginia on May 25, 1960, to the late Master Chief William Lawrence Rhodes, U.S. Navy. They enjoyed many years of happy marriage until his death.

Peacefully, her walk ended on the night of Wednesday January 4^th while receiving long-term nursing care at Norfolk Health & Rehabilitation Center in Norfolk, Virginia.

She was predeceased in death by her sister, Evette McWilliam and her brothers, Billy Parker, Willie Boyd Parker, and James Parker.  She was also predeceased by her sons, Michael Parker and Morris Parker, her daughter Norma Jean Murphy, and two grandsons, Lorenza Maurice Parker and LA Morris Wilson.

Those left to her loving memory are her daughter, Retired Sergeant First Class Gloria Marie Alston, Hampton, Virginia, daughter Joyce Ann Parker, Portsmouth, Virginia, daughter Valerie Teresa Sledge, Villa Rica, Georgia, son-in-law Thomas A. Sledge, Villa Rica, Georgia, and son Cornell Rhodes and daughter-in-law Sabrina, Norfolk, Virginia.  She also leaves behind grandchildren, Iyana Parker, Omar Alston, Samantha Harrison, Sherry Murphy, Cornell McGoodin, Sherell McGoodin, Chares Watson, a host of great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and cousins including Bishop Richard Wheelous (Eulogist) and wife Lady Nora Wheelous, and friends.