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Note: g
by the English name of the Greek island of Rhodes (Greek Rhodos), with which there is
no connection. There is no connection, either, with modern English road (Old English
rad riding), which was not used to denote a thoroughfare until the 16th century.
Source:
Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4
Note:
Rita was the middle child of a farming family in Shellhorn, Pike County, AL USA,and
because of her petite size was called "Runt" by her father. Her name, "Martha", was
in honor of her maternal grandmother, Martha Moye. Rita didn't like the name "Martha",
and she didn't like her grandmother. It seems that the elder Martha had false teeth
and would stick them out (like sticking out your tongue) at the young Martha, thus giving
her a scare.
Along with her brothers and sisters, Rita did farm chores from chopping cotton to churning
milk and all in between. She was also a good student and was the "Salutatorian" of her
high school graduating class.
After high school, she came to Montgomery, AL where she worked as a clerk in a five and
ten-cent store. One of her friends introduced her to Tommy, a man that shared her same
birthday albeit two years earlier, and they began seeing each other. They were married
on November 30, 1940.
After the birth of their first child on February 17, 1942, Rita became a home-maker and
put her career on hold with the exception of the years of World War Two when Tommy was serving
overseas in the Navy.
Their second child was born November 26, 1945, and there was a little girl, Susan Maria, that
was stillborn on June 7, 1952 which also nearly caused Rita's death. Her blood pressure was
so high that she became blind. Her sight returned after her blood pressure was brought under
control by an experimental drug that her doctor, Randolph Penton, was able to procure.
During the following years she was involved in her children's school PTA and church
organizations, and did volunteer work as a Red Cross nurses aide. After the children were old
enough to be on their own at home she returned to work part-time as a clerk at Sears, Roebuck
and Company.
Aspiring to a higher level of employment, she studied for and passed the State examination
to become a laboratory technician. She worked her way up from "Laboratory Technician I" to
"Microbiologist III" in the State Health Department Tuberculosis Laboratory before she retired.
She had two other near-death experiences precipitated by vehicular accidents, none of which
were her fault, and an allergic reaction to PKV dye used during an X-ray procedure. Again, it
was Randolph Penton whom she credited for saving her life, but I suspect it was more to do with
her will to live and the prayers of her loved ones.
I recall once asking her what it was like to grow up during "the depression"; she replied that
she didn't know any difference, their family had always been in a depression. Perhaps this is
what shaped her into the resilient women she became.
She always put her family first, and rarely bought new things for herself...she would rather
save for "A rainy day" than buy herself a new dress. At the age of eighty-seven she commented
that she was a little worried that her rent at the retirement apartment may go up at lease renewal
time. I said, "So what?...you have enough money in the bank to cover that for the rest of your
life" to which she replied, "Yes, but I'm saving that for you and your sister." Still always
putting us first.
She became ill and was hospitalized, but this time she didn't have much fight left. After a month
of treatment, she said she was ready to go, and wanted to see her mother and daddy and her baby
girl.
She died in the hospital at he age of 89 on February 9, 2010 just after midnight.
Note:
As mentioned in the foregoing, Rita had two near death experiences. The following is a typed copy
of a note written in her hand dated April 20, 1970, which followed one of these events:
April 20, 1970
This is something that happened to me and I have shared this with no one but my husband. I told
in part to my nurses and doctors, but not this part which I am about to write. I'm writing it not
because I think I could ever forget it, but because I want my children and other family and friends
to know of it. I have tried so many times to sit down and put it in words, but never feel that I
can do justice to what happened to me.
It started about Sat. afternoon after the wreck on Friday September 5, 1969. In the corner of the
room on my left, I began to see what looked like an Oriental tree. I remembered thinking that I
had not remembered that being there. Sometimes I would look and it would be gone and then again
it would be there. This only lasted for a while, and it was gone. Then in the same corner of the
room was a stained glass window and I could look other places and see other things like little
animals on the ceilings and just lots of bright colors on the ceilings, but the stained glass window
remained there. I could close my eyes and not see it, I could look at other parts of the room and
not see it, but always in the same corner it was there. Even if I was talking to someone in the room
I could look and see it there.
Then on Sunday, I was feeling worse by this time and St. Anthony appeared just outside the window. I
could only see him from his waist up and he had his back turned and was looking over his shoulder at
me with a somewhat worried look on his face. I had no way of knowing that this was St. Anthony, I
was just sure it was he. I could still look other places in the room and look back and find the same
vision. It was not like a picture, it was a true being there.
When I began feeling worse and it was evident that my condition had become critical, I was sure that
I was going to die and I was so afraid and I prayed so hard. I just kept saying "Lord, I don't mind
dying but please don't let me be afraid.". It was then that St. Anthony turned and walked across the
room and he leaned over me and said "Don't worry - if you go I'll go with you." - He took me by the
hand and we walked over to the corner of the room where the stained glass window was and there was a
cross-rail fence beside it then- as I put my hands on the fence to climb over I saw behind the window
just a glimpse of a grey thick darkness, and St. Anthony put his hand on my shoulder and said "We're
not going to take you now." - He gently led me back to the bed and took his original position just
looking over his shoulder at me.
All this time the doctor and nurses were working with me and suddenly I wasn't afraid anymore, I knew
I was going to be all right.
St. Anthony kept his vigil for several days and as I became better I saw him less and less and then
finally no more. It was not until after this that I told only part of the things I saw to the nurse
and she in turn told the doctor. It was weeks later that I told my husband.
I knew that I went down to the valley of the shadow, but God sent St. Anthony to bring me back.
Obituary:
JONES, Rita Rhodes, 89, of Montgomery, AL passed away on Tuesday, February 09, 2010.
She was preceded in death by her husband Thomas Benjamin Jones Jr. and one grandson, Jake Tamburello.
She is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Bonnie J. (Carl) Barranco; one son and daughter-in-law,
Thomas Benjamin (Marsha)Jones III , all of Montgomery; four grandchildren, Ann Restine, Ben (Katy)
Tamburello,Jr., all of Birmingham, AL; Lori Taylor of Montgomery, AL; Thomas Benjamin (Jennifer)Jones IV,
of Huntsville, AL; seven great-grandchildren; a very special friend, Gordon Godfrey and a host of friends
who were most dear to her from the State of Alabama T.B. Lab, and at Eastdale Estates.
Pallbearers will be Ben Tamburello Jr., Ben Tamburello, III, Thomas Benjamin Jones,IV, Michael Giambrone,
Donald Parker and Joe Simpson.
Memorials may be made to The Dominican Monistary of St. Jude, 143 Co. Rd. 20 East, Marbury, AL 36051.
Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 13, 2010 from St. Andrews Catholic Church
with Father Wilbur Kissell officiating, and concelebrants Father David Carucci and Father Patrick Driscoll.
Burial will follow in St. Margaret's at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Leak-Memory Chapel
on Friday evening beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m.Leak-Memory Chapel Directing
www.leak-mc.com
MARRIAGE: Married to Thomas Benjamin Jones, Jr. on November 30, 1940 in Montgomery, Alabama
at St. Andrew Catholic Church.
Alabama Marriage Collection, 1800-1969
Name: Martha R Rhodes
Marriage Date: 30 Nov 1940
County: Montgomery
State: Alabama
Note:
"Rhodes"
English (chiefly Yorkshire): topographic name for someone who lived in a clearing
in woodland. This, the most common form of the name, has been influenced in spellin
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