Elma Lucille Rhodes

Elma Lucille "Aunt Dude" Rhodes, 90, of Crump passed away Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, at Jackson Manor Nursing Home.  

"Aunt Dude" made many friends during her two and a half years residing at the Manor, although every so often, she would have to "spank" one of the nurse aides as her wheelchair rolled past them. She enjoyed life to the fullest and always loved a good laugh.

She was born May 26, 1924, in Crump, to Jesse Franklin and Abba Luria Proffer. She and William "Harry" Rhodes were married May 27, 1942. He passed away Feb. 10, 1996.

As a child, she attended school at the little one-room country school in Crump.

While Harry was in the military, she held various jobs on posts where he was stationed. However, her most favorite job of all was to be a homemaker and to provide for her family. As a stay-at-home mom, she was always there to greet her kids (and any neighbor kids) following school with snacks, which were often fresh-baked cookies right out of the oven.

She loved to cook; her chicken 'n dumplings were known throughout the county. She once baked a peach cobbler to be auctioned at her church fundraiser; four bidders pooled their resources and won the high bid of $300.

She and Harry were fox hunters, raising many hounds throughout their lifetime. Nearly every Friday night you could find them and their children gathered around a bonfire along a country road with several other fox-hunting friends, enjoying the chase and roasting marshmallows. They traveled to dog shows all over the place entering the hounds in shows and bringing home trophies nearly every weekend. Harry and Lucille were instrumental in the formation of the Old Covered Bridge Fox and Wolf Hunters Association, where Harry served as club president and Lucille as secretary for many years.

She was a member of Connection Point Church (formerly the Jackson First General Baptist Church) and truly enjoyed listening to her favorite pastor of all time, the Rev. Luther Rhodes, who claimed her as his "adopted mom."

Loving survivors include a daughter, Wilma (Mike) Huffman; and a son, Steve (Laurel) Rhodes, both of Jackson. She was blessed -- and enjoyed every minute of it -- with four grandchildren, Matt (Brittney) Huffman of Crump, April Huffman and Sarah (Bryan) Sander, both of Jackson, and Eric Rhodes of Jupiter, Florida. She is also survived by five loving great-grandchildren, Dakota and Rylin Huffman of Crump, Collin Huffman of Jackson, and Sydney and Addilynn Sander of Jackson. A sister, Ruth Jean (Jim) Taylor of Burfordville, also survives, as do many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Judith Ann Rhodes; a grandson, Michael Todd Huffman; three sisters, Margie Proffer, Marie Taylor and Alma Williams; and four brothers, J.W. Proffer, Troy Proffer, Roy Proffer and Otis Proffer.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Revs. Mike Huffman and Mike Grant officiating.

Interment will be in Proffer Cemetery at Crump.

The family suggests that memorials take the form of contributions to Southeast Hospice, Proffer Cemetery Fund or the church or charity of your choice.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at mccombsfuneralhome.com.