Martha Lois (Wright) Rhodes

Martha Lois Rhodes, age 93, of Florence, passed away on May 19, 2017.

Visitation will be Sunday, May 21, 2017 from 2-4 pm at Greenview Memorial Chapel.

The service and burial will be on Monday, May 22, 2017 at 2:00 pm at Canaan United

Methodist Church, Reverend Chuck Canterbury officiating. The body will lie in state at

the church from 1-2 pm.

A lifelong resident of Lauderdale County, she was born on June 19, 1923. She

graduated from Waterloo High School and she retired as a nurse’s aide from ECM

Hospital. She was an active member of Canaan United Methodist church for many

years.

She was married to the love of her life, Will Rhodes, for 66 years. He was her best

friend and he adored her spitfire spirit and home cooking. She claimed until her death

that he was the sweetest, most handsome man she ever met. They shared a love story

that included two military deployments, a beautiful farm, three sons whom they were

incredibly proud of, three wonderful daughters-in-law, four grandchildren who they

adored and nine great grandchildren who they believed walked on water.

She loved many things: reading, quilting, traveling, working in her flowers and garden;

but her love language was cooking. Her beloved husband had a sweet tooth, which

made their love story even sweeter because she lavished him with tea cakes, peanut

butter cake and chocolate pie. He was known to nudge their grandchildren into asking

MamaLois to teach them to bake because he knew that she would always say yes, and

he would reap the rewards.

She loved to spend time with her family. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren

spent many summer days by her side. She taught them life lessons, including how to

break beans and shell peas, the story line of Days of Our Lives, and how to beat

anyone at UNO. She loved nature and picnics and she enjoyed many afternoons at the

creek or on the river bank. She also loved taking long car rides.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Will Rhodes; eldest son, Ronnie Rhodes;

parents, Ira and Mary Sue Wright; sisters, Jewel Johnson, Dot Newton, Mary Lewis,

Mildred Wells and brother, David Wright.

She is survived by her sons Joe (Shelia) Rhodes, Florence; Carl (Sheila) Rhodes,

Orange Beach; and daughter-in-law Brenda Rhodes, Florence. Grandchildren Tonia

(Tim) Hanson, Memphis, TN; Heather (Kevin) Hargett, Russellville; Emily (Will) Powell,

Florence; and David (Christie) Rhodes, Lexington. Great-grandchildren Justin, Bethany

and Haley Pennington; Carlee, Adrian and Maverick Rhodes; and Kate, Martha Caroline

and Benton Powell.

The family would like to say a special “thank you” to Jackie May for her love, kindness,

patience and excellent care that she gave to Lois for the past 11 years. Because of you,

her life was brighter and happier and she loved you like a daughter.

Thank you to the wonderful staff at Brookdale Assisted Living for the superb care you

gave Lois for the last several years. Thank you to the nurses and staff at Mitchell-

Hollingsworth and Amedisys Hospice for the compassion you have shown to our family

in the last few weeks and thank you to Cheryl Middleton for helping us walk through

these last few days. You have all made a difference in her life, and in ours. God Bless

you.

 Service Information