Donald Jerome Rhodes went to be with the Lord on March 14, 2019. He was born in Winston-Salem, NC on September 23, 1947 to Arthur Dillard and Harriet Rhodes. Growing up Donald went by many nicknames including Bubblegum, due to his fat jaws, and as a young man, D.J. Rhodes. He was educated in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School system before going on to spend several dedicated years as an employee of Sara Lee, where he retired at the age of 62.

Donald was a devoted servant of the Lord and took pleasure in being an active member of Stokesdale Church of God. He drove the church van to pick up many of the neighborhood kids every Sunday morning, always dressed in his Sunday best, "sharper than a Philadelphia lawyer." When he wasn't at the church, Donald was often found handing out kool-aid pops and snacks to those same children who affectionately referred to him as Mr. Rhodes.

His most cherished calling of all was that of family man. A husband, father, and grandfather, or as his grandkids would call him, Papa. He loved blessing his family with summer vacations to Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and Myrtle Beach, among many other places. He always said had he not taken all those trips, he'd be half a millionaire today! His generosity stretched far and wide, and his love of family was always unconditional. Also unconditional was his undying love for the Washington Redskins, the New York Yankees, and the Boston Celtics. Even as a young adult, Donald enjoyed playing baseball for the RJR team. For Donald, love knew no boundaries.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Richard Harding of Dumfries, VA.

He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Patricia; sister, Bessie Mae; brother, Curry (Reneé); three sons, Marlon (Stacey), Thalaferro (Angela), and Michael; daughter Tammy (Chris); eight grandchildren; and three great grandchildren; as well as a host of cousins, friends, and former co-workers.