Marie Rhodes

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“Aunt Marie” to many, “The Brownie Lady” to many more, Marie Rhodes left this world in the hope of Jesus Christ on Saturday November 23, 2024, aged 91. 

Born Frances Marie Dickson in the Glendale community of Maury County on a farm alongside the Duck River on March 12, 1933, Marie was the daughter of Lebert Luther Dickson and Flossie Evelene Chiles Dickson. She attended school at Fountain Heights and graduated from Columbia Central High School, where she learned to play tenor saxophone and string bass. She sang in a quartet with her sister Ann and her brothers Royal and L.T. 

She met her late husband, Earl Rhodes, at church through the intermediation of Jerry White, who later married Ann. Earl and Marie married after three years. Their son Bill was born the following year. Earl and Jerry remained good friends for the rest of their lives. Marie and Earl enjoyed 64 years of marriage together before he died. Marie and Bill endured 64 years together before she died. 

Among other places, Marie worked at Tennessee Farm Bureau for K.C. Dodson and remained his friend for the rest of his life; in the music program at McDowell School; at Columbia State Community College, where she worked for Coach Dave Hall Sr in the Athletic Department, and for W.O. Johnson in Admissions; and at Kraft Brothers. She derived great joy from the Columbia State athletic program, and sold tickets to baseball and basketball games at Columbia State for more than forty years: her friend Coach Louis Connor named the baseball field ticket booth after her. 

A generous soul, Marie freely shared her time and effort with those whom she loved. Her brownies were a memorably delicious treat she delighted to share: One year she counted baking well over 400 pans of brownies, all of which she gave away. She was an intelligent and determined lady with strong opinions, which like her brownies she freely shared. She enjoyed gardening, and with her beloved friend Betty Vinson maintained a rather large vegetable garden for over 25 years. She mowed her own lawn with a push mower until she was 85 years old. Hard work and frugality were her mottoes: She could pinch a penny so hard you could hear Mr Lincoln screaming in Marshall County. 

Besides her husband and her parents, Marie was predeceased by her brothers: Ernest Dickson, Royal Dickson Sr, and L.T. Dickson; her sisters: Willa Mae Dickson and Ann White; a beloved niece, Lori Dickson Stockard; and her long-suffering daughter-in-law, Judy Rhodes.

Besides her son, Marie is survived by her grandson, Joe Rhodes of Revere, Massachusetts, and his wife Paola; her granddaughter, Megan Hilfinger of Salem, Massachusetts, and her husband Connor; many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, all of whom she loved; and her friend and fellow conspirator, Betty Vinson.

Marie’s family conveys their heartfelt love and appreciation to the entire Vinson family; to the family of Coach Dave and Lynda Hall, particularly their daughter-in-law Deanna; to Alpha Dean Baker; most especially to Linda Norton for all her help, expertise, and patience; and to Hallie Bills, whom Marie treated almost as roughly and lovingly as she did Bill. Death is God’s way of letting you know that you’ve made all the friends you can in this life, so as Marie would say, “Get to it.” 

Visitation will be Thursday December 5 from 4 to 7 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home in Columbia. The Reverend Mr. Daniel McCulley will officiate a funeral there on Friday December 6 at 2 PM. Internment will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens. Pall bearers will be Royal Dickson Jr, Phillip White, David White, Eric Ward, Joe Rhodes, and David Hall Jr. If you cannot attend either the visitation or the funeral but wish you could, Marie admonishes you to feel no distress: She said she wouldn’t go either if she didn’t have to. 

In lieu of flowers, Marie asked that you make a donation to the church you attend; or to the Dave Hall Baseball Scholarship, care of Bethany Lay in the Investment Office, Columbia State Community College, 1665 Hampshire Pike, Columbia TN 38401; or to the Duck River Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) in memory of Ronnie Norton, 2002 Oakland Parkway, Columbia TN 38401.