Willie Earlene Rhodes

Memorial service for Willie Earlene Rhodes, age 93, of Sulphur Springs will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday March 7th, 2026 at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 1239 Jefferson Street E, Sulphur Springs, TX. Mrs. Rhodes passed away at Rock Creek Health & Rehab on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

Earlene Rhodes was born on June 6, 1932, in Mount Vernon Texas, to the late John, Sr. and Lorraine (South) Tully. She married John Riley Rhodes in Hopkins County on December 31, 1946. At the time of his death, they had been married for 65 years.

Earlene was a devoted homemaker. She also worked for several years at H.D. Lee’s and later did testing for Hopkins County dairies. Earlene loved people and had a special way of making everyone feel welcome in her home. Even while receiving visitors at the nursing home. Her favorite line was, “You have made my day.” She consistently displayed a positive attitude and made a sincere effort to show Christian love to all.

She enjoyed playing Canasta and Scrabble – and she did like to win. Earlene cherished visits with her Christian brothers and sisters, working puzzles, walking the block after meals, enjoying ice cream floats made only with black walnut ice cream, chicken stews, and her homemade quesadillas. Most of all, she treasured listening and talking with her children, grandchildren, and her extended family. Sharing special moments with each of them. Earlene loved to laugh.

Earlene was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses on January 23, 1971, and remained a faithful servant of Jehovah until her death. She followed Jesus’ example by sharing in the ministry through door-to-door work, as well as telephone and letter writing ministry. She often would open her home for others to share this work with her. These activities brought her great joy.

She wanted all to know of her hope in the Bible. Jehovahs’ promise of everlasting life on a peaceful new Earth and her hope of being reunited with her husband, John Riley, through the resurrection.

If you knew Earlene, you knew what mattered most to her – her deep love for her Heavenly Father, Jehovah, His Son, Jesus Christ, the Christian brotherhood, and her beloved family and friends.

She is survived by her son, John “Rocky” Rhodes, Jr. (Rita) of Sulphur Springs; daughter, Barbara Smith of Greenville; eight grandchildren, Mikki Flanagan, Kathy Earls (Dean), John Jacob Plemmons (Erin), Brent Plemmons (Jill), Brandon Smith (Mellisa), Jesse Dale Smith (Sheila), Melinda Cooper (Brandon), and Chad Smith (Liz, deceased); 27 great grandchildren and a host of great-great grandchildren; brothers, Lonnie Tully (Kathy) and Danny Tully; sisters, Mary Stanback(Eaton, deceased) and Betty Knooce (Johnny).

Earlene was preceded in death by parents; daughter, Linda Henning; brothers, J.L. Tully, Paul Van Tully, and Sammy Tully; sister, Helen Hatley.

As expressed at Job 33:25:

“Let his flesh become fresher than in youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor.”