House Resolution 32

A RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MR. CECIL RHODES, AND EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS UPON HIS PASSING.

WHEREAS, it is written in Ecclesiastes 3:1 that "To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the Heaven," and as such, on January 1, 2023, the immaculate author and finisher of our soul's destiny summoned the mortal presence of dearly beloved, Mr. Cecil Rhodes, of Brookhaven, Mississippi, to eternal rest, rendering great sorrow and loss to his family, friends and community; and

WHEREAS, born on September 6, 1920, in Neshoba County, Mississippi, to Mr. Ben and Mrs. Cola Breland Rhodes, Mr. Rhodes

was a member of First Baptist Church of Brookhaven for 73 years, where he served as a deacon and a Sunday School teacher; and

WHEREAS, outside of his outstanding military service in World War II, Mr. Rhodes worked for many years as a sanitarian with the Mississippi State Board of Health; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Rhodes surrendered his life to Jesus more than nine decades ago, and was baptized in a neighbor's cow pond, after they had chased the cows out of it, and his relationship with God was his greatest blessing, and as he was surrounded by some of his family the day before his last birthday, Mr. Rhodes was happy, and stated: "The Lord has just taken care of me. Through the years I have just been blessed so much"; and

WHEREAS, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Rhodes was often seen at various events around town, at his church home at First Baptist Brookhaven, or sharing coffee and conversation with his buddies at Burger King, and he would have his wooden cane and be wearing a World War II veteran's cap and a near-perpetual smile; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Rhodes greatly enjoyed reading a chapter of the Bible each morning, followed by a trip outdoors to "walk back and forth to get these legs limber," he said, and he also enjoyed growing tomatoes, watermelon, and squash in his garden; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Rhodes enjoyed visiting with friends, as he would mount his motorized scooter and scoot around his neighborhood, visiting with people who were either already outside, or who came out to greet him, and he also enjoyed watching sports, such as the Atlanta Braves during baseball season, and when it was football season, he would watch a lot of football games as well; and

WHEREAS, though he has traversed the river of life to reunite with those who answered God's summons to life eternal and now beckon his arrival to the celestial shores of Heaven's grandeur, such as his parents, Mr. Ben and Mrs. Cola Breland Rhodes; wife, Mrs. Olivia Chaney Rhodes; brothers, Hayes Rhodes, Reid Rhodes and Walter Franklin (Mutt) Rhodes; and sister, Selma Rushing; the legacy of Mr. Rhodes' indelible imprint upon our lives will continue to refresh the hearts and fond memories of his loved ones, including his daughter, Sheila Turnage; son, Byron Rhodes; sisters, Lee Pendergrass and Zula Shackelford; grandchildren, Matthew Turnage, Terri Irons and Marc Turnage; great-grandchildren, Cecilia, William, Drew, Meredith, Jackson and Bailey; and a host of other relatives and dear friends; and

WHEREAS, a genuine man of exceptional character, Mr. Rhodes' outstanding legacy will continue for generations to come, and precious memories of time spent with him will hopefully continue to provide warmth, peace and comfort to his loved ones; and

WHEREAS, a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, Mr. Rhodes will forever be loved, cherished and missed by all who knew him, and since it is written in 2 Corinthians 5:8, that to be "absent from the body is to be present with the Lord," his family and friends can find peace and comfort during this difficult time; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Rhodes' legacy is a strong and free Mississippi and United States of America, and for his selfless heroic military service, a grateful nation and state thank him, and it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and honor the lives of great Mississippians, especially those such as Mr. Rhodes, a wonderful man whose life's light illuminated the path of hope for all he encountered along this earthly sojourn:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby mourn the loss and honor the life and legacy of Mr. Cecil Rhodes, and express deepest sympathy to his family and friends upon his passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the family of Mr. Cecil Rhodes, and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.