Helen Delores Shelton Rhodes

Funeral services for Mrs. Helen Delores Shelton Rhodes will begin at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home chapel with Dr. Carl White officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements.

In the early morning hours of July 25,2019, Mrs. Rhodes, age 87, passed away. Her final days were spent being cared for by her family in their home in Meridian, Mississippi.

Helen Delores Shelton Rhodes was born on May 12, 1932 in Washington, DC. While she was an only child of Margaret Shelton Leathers, she was blessed to be cared for by her mother’s sisters and brothers.

Helen began her career as a secretary in the Naval Department. She married Fred Rhodes, and started a family while traveling around the country in his service to the Navy. She dedicated her time to creating a home, raising her children and serving the Lord wherever they were stationed. Helen was a faithful member of Highland Baptist Church. She was dedicated to sharing God’s love with others through missions like the WMU or through the children’s ministries. In the early 70’s she was asked to start a Children’s Worship program for preschoolers. She also was a teacher in the Highland Baptist Child Development Center for several years while her girls were in college.

Helen is survived by her children, Karen Lee Rhodes, Deborah Jean Grissett (Bill) and Fred Markham “Mark” Rhodes, Jr.; Step Grandchildren, Amanda Franklin (Eddie) and Patrick Grissett (Jessica May) and Step Great Grandchildren, Avery Franklin, Edgar Franklin and Morgan Grissett. She is also survived by many cousins but had a special relationship with one she called her brother, William Sullivan. Her forever friend, Wilma Jean Wise and her “adopted” granddaughter, Amber Auld.

Mrs. Rhodes is preceded in death by her husband Fred Markham Rhodes, Sr, her mother Margaret Leathers and those aunts and uncles that helped raise her.

Pallbearers will be Dave Carr, Quinn Carlisle, Rodney Moon, Victor Threatt, Steve Rutledge and Gary Bell.

The family would like to thank the physicians and caregivers who allowed her to stay at home during her illness. They are Dr. Rhonda Wilson, PDN, Tamaika Landrum, Deaconess Home Health, and Sta-Home Hospice.

Memorials may be sent to Highland Baptist Church, Meridian, Mississippi.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, July 30, 2019 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home.