Madie Rhodes, 86, of Sanford went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on February 5, 2024, quietly at home.
Madie was born to the late Raymond and Mary Yawn Spires on November 14, 1937, in Fayetteville. Besides her parents, Madie was preceded in death by her loving husband Charles Rabon Rhodes; sisters Lourine Spires Hall and Elizabeth Spires Edwards, and daughter in law Teresa Nelson Rhodes.
Madie leaves many cherished memories to her children, daughters Sheila Rhodes Stevens and husband Russell, Wanda Rhodes Taylor and husband Randy, son Gerald Bruce Rhodes and wife Suzanne Hakes Rhodes; four grandchildren Elizabeth Stevens, Mary Katherine Bright and husband, Walter Bright, Kristina Rhodes and wife Alaina James, Garett Rhodes and wife Mona; 3 great-grandchildren Karsyn Rhodes, Grimm Rhodes and Godric Rhodes, 2 step great grandchildren Chloe and Liam, step grandchildren Kyle Taylor and daughter Addison and Candace and Vance Gust and children Savannah and Connor; sisters, Bobbie Jean Walthall, Evelyn Booth, husband Leonard and Yvonne Tilley, husband Bob; and many loved relatives near and far.
Madie was a woman of faith and compassion who loved Jesus Christ and her family more than anything. She was a faithful member of First Baptist Church in Spring Lake for over 60 years, where she taught mission friends and Sunday School and always worked in VBS. When she moved to Sanford in 1999 she joined Lemon Springs Baptist Church where she was an adult Sunday School teacher until December 2023, helped with the hostess committee and OCC shoeboxes. Madie loved her church family. She prayed daily for sick members of her family and her church. Madie was an excellent seamstress. She could make anything or repair anything. Madie loved to sew and quilt. Over the years she made and quilted many beautiful quilts. She taught her daughters Sheila and Wanda how to quilt too. Madie also loved to make hand sewn bags out of scraps for the Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes. Just in 2023 she made 600 bags. Even when she was sick she would talk about finishing the bags she had started for OCC She loved to take things apart and try to fix them by herself. Madie went to beauty school and worked as a hairdresser for 47 years, retiring at age 80. Her loyal customers would come and wait just for her. When Rabon and Madie relocated to Sanford, her customers would drive from Fayetteville for her to cut and/or style their hair. Madie cut and styled hair for her family and taught her granddaughters how to wash her hair. Until December 2023 her daughters never had anyone else to cut or style their hair. Over the years, Madie learned to decorate cakes. She made a birthday cake of their choice for her family. Madie loved to have family around and she planned and hosted many family reunions.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made in honor of Madie to Lemon Springs Baptist Church 576 Sanders Rd, Sanford NC 27332 or the charity of your choice.
There will be a visitation for family and friends on Monday, February 12, 2024 at Lemon Springs Baptist Church at 11:30 AM. A celebration of life service for Madie will be held on Monday, February 12 at 1:00 PM at Lemon Springs Baptist Church. Burial will immediately follow the service at Lafayette Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville, NC.
