I thank God for my friendship with my brother-in-law Charles Rodman French.  My sister Millie taught me a lot about our Christian faith and I so enjoyed my visits with them, especially on Thursdays as that was a special day to go to New Bern and visit.  I loved to talk about the Bible and hear the knowledge the two of them shared with me.  After I moved to Florida, whenever I talked with him on the telephone, he would ask me when I was coming to visit.  He would always end the call with "If I don't get to see you, I'll see you in Heaven".  That is a promise he and I will keep.
Love endures.

Although I only knew him for a short period of his long and full life I remember many wonderful experiences shared with my Granddaddy.  When I was very young I remember we would always spend time outside together.  Walking everywhere, from the roads and trails in Rome, Georgia to the dry flat-land of New Bern, North Carolina, we would always walk and look around at the beautiful surroundings in nature.  We often saw birds, deer, snakes, turtles and many other things I would not have seen normally as a young boy.  Sometimes if we found a turtle he would take some colored nail polish and mark the top of its shell before we let it go.  That way if we saw it again we would know we had found or seen it before.  Eventually I was old enough to go out with him in his boat, "The Dixie Darling".  The first time we went I was so excited about getting to fish in the water and not just on the shore.  Granddaddy took the boat out and I sat near the front of the boat as we started to journey further out into the sound between the freshwater and the ocean. I could see crabs just swimming through the water, and pointed them out to him.  He told me not to worry, but that we would have plenty of those soon. Before I realized it we were cruising very fast in the water and I grew scared.  It felt as though I had never traveled so fast before as the wind whipped past my head and I saw Granddaddy just looking out to map what was his journey.  I began to cry and before long he took notice.  He stopped the boat and asked me, in that high-pitched voice that reminds me so of my mother's, what on Earth was wrong and why was I crying? or something to that effect.  I told him I was just scared because it was so fast and I was worried.  He quickly assured me that I had nothing to worry about, and that he would never let anything bad happen to me.  Off we went, eventually stopping and putting out his nets to gather fish, crabs and whatever else would end up caught in the net.  Once the nets were out in the water they were easy to see because they were marked with bright buoys, and before I knew it we were racing in large circles around the line of the net.  We were going just as fast as we had traveled earlier in my mind, but this time it was fun!  We set and brought the nets in a few times that day bringing in many Mullet, Croaker, Spot, and Blue Crabs.  I always enjoyed going fishing when time allowed as part of our visits to New Bern.  We would not always go out with a net, as we would fish with a pole, or rod and reels. I remember going Striped Bass fishing with Granddaddy a few times as well but I only remember ever catching Croaker and Spot with pole and rod setups.  Whether we caught anything or not I always had a great time.  Granddaddy always wanted to have a good catch  while we were out though.
My granddaddy always took a great interest in my life. 



When I became a bit older Granddaddy was eager to teach me how to shoot a gun.  Mamma was not keen on this idea, but it seemed they came to an agreement that I would learn to shoot a simple Pellet Rifle.  He took me to the far back part of the yard behind the garage where his garden and deer/fish cleaning station was.  There he taught me all of the important safety precautions of handling and using a gun.  I would later learn these same practices in Scouts but I was well prepared from my Granddaddy's teachings.  The rifle was fairly simple to setup aside from the pump which was rather tiresome to pump as I was only 9 or 10.  Granddaddy would always make a homemade target for me to shoot at with cardboard or a coffee can, and what seemed like the largest black Magic-Marker I had ever seen.  Even though the gun was simple it was very accurate once I learned how to use it.  It was very peaceful outside with my Granddaddy watching me shoot a few times at the target.  Every once and a while I would get to go with him to the Hunting Club and walk through the trails.  It was very flat and desert-like to me as a young boy.  All the roads were covered with the light brown sandy dirt and the landscape was covered with large barren trees and thick, course shrubs.  There was not much green anywhere but always wild-life galore.  We would pick out a good stick each to travel with, as he had taught me when I was very young to find a good stick in case I ever came upon a snake.  These "snake-sticks" would come in handy to move dangerous snakes away from our path, if they ever became a hazard.  Even though they rarely were a part of our journey I would always enjoy grabbing a good stick for walking with my granddaddy, wherever we would go. 
Spending more time in the house Granddaddy would always enjoy watching sports, and I enjoyed watching with him.  His favorites when I was growing up were boxing and Atlanta Braves baseball.  When the boxers were on he would always have me stand up and act like I was boxing for him.  Telling me I needed to learn how to  fight so I could defend myself if I needed to.  Somehow or another I always ended up singing for Grand mamma and Granddaddy too.  Opera-style was the beginning of what I will always remember was his love for music.  I believe it was less of what I was singing at my age and more of the fact that I was singing for him and my family; entertaining them.  As I got older he began to request I sing the Twelve Days of Christmas to him, or as he called it, "Partridge in a Pear Tree".  I fear that I switched the days up as they got past nine but it never mattered.  He just wanted to be entertained and I was glad to have the opportunity to do it for him.                                            When I was about thirteen, Granddaddy showed me how he shaved everyday with his Norelco razor and that it would be important that I know how to keep my looks sharp so that the ladies would take notice of me.  With just a few minutes and some aftershave Granddaddy had me looking like a new man.  Before Church on Sunday he would always make sure I looked my best before I went to the service.  These teachings always brought such confidence to me as a person who should display himself the best way possible in life.
My Granddaddy was always interested in the lives of others and was a great family man and outdoors man. I will never forget the skills of life and the teachings of God that will never stop teaching and affecting me as a person.  I love and miss him very much but am so glad that he is in Heaven, walking taller next to his soul-mate, and the rest of God's children in paradise.

How can I put into words about one of the dearest, most delightful men I have ever met or known. I feel like the Lord put me and Mr. French together for a period of time to enrich my life. I had the privilege of helping to care for him for about three years. I actually looked forward to going to work each day.
Even with all his infirmities, he always had a pleasant outlook on life. He loved people and enjoyed all those who came to visit. He never complained about anything, always wanting to help me with things. I would bring the newspaper in each morning and read it to him after breakfast. Then I would read him his Bible as he closed his eyes and listened. Then we would have a discussion about what I read.
He loved sitting out on the deck whenever it was a pretty day and looking up in the sky at the vapors coming from the planes way up high. Whenever his good friend, David Hurst, was in town, he would come and visit Mr. French and would bring lunch for the three of us. His favorite choice was always fried oysters, okra, and sweet potatoes. How we all enjoyed those visits.
My head is filled with pleasant memories, and I still miss him so much. But God had a better plan and took him home. I know I will see him again one day. I am so thankful I had the opportunity to know him, and I will never forget him.

My husband Heber and I were so very blessed to have known Mr. French.  He and his wife had 5 daughters and they always had a way of making us feel a huge part of their family.  Several years ago his daughter, Marilyn, my dear friend brought him to Newberry to see our turkey farm.  He had a way about him of making what we do for a living exciting.  We rode him around the farm to see the crops and cows.  Our oldest son, Josh, loves to deer hunt and he took Mr. French to see his collection of mounted deer heads.  Those two really had a fun conversation. This past December Heber and I visited with Mr. French and Marilyn and Jim's home in Columbia.  I was sitting on the couch beside Mr. F. he leaned over and softly said to me, "Do you think your husband will be jealous if I hold your hand?"  And we held hands.  How many times in our lives are we blessed to spend quality time with someone his age and as fine a Christian as he was? I thank God for bringing him into our lives.
Heber and Margaret Long

2 Tim. 4:7 - "I have fought the good fight." Just as the Apostle Paul wrote this affirmation of his unwavering faith and and unyielding love of God's Word, so too was my Daddy's commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ every day until God called him home.
A precious time occurred when I was twelve years old when my Daddy bowed to his knees and accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior after Rev. K. Alvin Pitt and Mr. Jessie Banks presented him the plan of salvation. The next day Daddy requested that I go with Mother and Marilyn to Belk to purchase a Bible for him. That next day I also had the wonderful privilege  of telling Grandmama French the good news, and hearing her shout and cry with joy saying she had prayed for his salvation for years. Daddy depended on that Bible to "fight the good fight" of life. He relied upon its words, studied it, taught it, and shared it in witnessing. 
Growing up I always considered my Daddy to be Daniel Boone. Being physically fit and active, he enjoyed exploring the woods and the water and loved nature and animals. He was ambitious, never lazy, always working hard to supplement our family's income through commercial fishing. I would often go hunting and fishing with my Daddy and learned that he knew a whole lot about the outdoors like how to handle a gun, how to handle a boat, and how to handle himself in the wild, among many other things. I remember one day he walked up on a bear, stopped in his tracks, and slowly walked backward until he reached the cab of the truck wherein he jumped in like lightening. I was frightened and curled up on the floor of the truck. I knew that my Daddy was courageous and not afraid. He certainly influenced me to have courage by saying "Just try it - whatever you do". And so I did. When I was young, Daddy purchased a large lot on Madam Moore's Lane on Trent River which was a very wise decision. He built a pier and had a boat available for fishing, crabbing, and even water skiing. In fact I learned to slalom behind that small boat!! While I was growing up on Madam Moore's Lane, I considered my family to be poor, but now looking back, I realize we were rich in so many good ways. We had love for each other, had the river to enjoy, had fresh crabs and fish, had fresh homegrown vegetables from the garden along with grapes and pears. We shared all of our meals together enjoying what God provided and always gave Him thanks. We were indeed rich enjoying God's bounty as well as each other.
My father, Charles Rodman French, was blessed to live 96 years. During our lives together, there was never a time he did not love my mama, my sisters, and me. My burial plot is beside Mama and Daddy, right where I belong. This setting is just temporary compared to heaven where I will be with my parents forever. My story and memories about my Daddy are real yet simple; however, they are so special to me and always will be. 
Beverly French Thorburn, Greensboro, NC

To My Special Daddy from #5 Daughter,
Daddy, it's so hard not to see you across the street. If only I could hold your hand one more time and if only I could hug you. My heart is so sad, if only you knew just how much I miss you. I wish I could bring you another milkshake or have another dance with you. I can see you on the deck when I would roll up; you were always looking at your little birds. I will always cherish these memories of you. I think about the past how you would tell me the best bedtime stories and how you taught me how to swim, fish, crab, and all about money and how to give back coins. You taught me about God. I am so thankful that I had a Christian Dad. I will cherish the memory of the last few days with you with my daughter. One day I will see your smiling face in heaven. I know you prayed for my daughter even before she was born, and I am so happy she got a chance to know all about her grandfather. You will always be in my heart, and I will love you forever throughout eternity. Thank you for being the best Daddy and grandfather. I love my Daddy and will truly miss him.
Kathy Cuthrell,#5 Daughter,New Bern, North Carolina

My great granddad was so Special to me.
He always had that cute twinkle in his eyes.  I loved to hear all the fascinating things he would tell me.  Things that happened long ago. He loved for me to read the Bible to him and he enjoyed me taking him for rides to see the ducks at Union Point.  Also, he loved to stop by Wendy's for a vanilla Frosty. I am truly blessed for all the loving memories that we shared and that he was such a Big part in my life.
I miss you Great Granddad!

My daddy, Charles Rodman French, was my Hero.  He showed me love in so many ways all my life.  When I was young and in the hospital, he showed me
Romans 8:28 in the Bible.  All through my 3 months stay I would read this scripture and know the Lord was with me and that I would be home soon with my daddy and mama.  Daddy loved visiting Morehead City and Beaufort.  When he couldn't drive anymore, I would take him there and we would dream together about having a home near the ocean.  Daddy would often tell me stories about his hunting and fishing trips.  Almost always he would share with me how the Lord had saved him from a terrible accident, in quicksand or stormy weather.  Hearing daddy talk about his love for the Lord will always be with me.  He was ready to go to heaven to be with Jesus and my mama but I will surely miss him.  I look forward to being with him in paradise one day.
I love you daddy! Melody Hudnall (#4)

After Mrs. French passed away, my wife and I decided to take Mr. French on a trip. We knew his sight was pretty bad and his hearing was only in one ear and thought this may or may not work out. He had always talked about his love of Savannah, Georgia, where he had his first real job some 70 years ago, so that's where we visted. The amazing thing was how much he remembered about the city even getting us to the street and building he had lived in at one time. The other amazing thing was how well he traveled.
He did not miss out on anything and enjoyed meeting new people, eating out,
learning new things, and always visiting a Bass Pro Shop! Mr. French had trips to Morehead City, to Charleston, to Myrtle Beach, to Pigeon Forge, to Asheville, to Greensboro, and to Newberry and Lexington, South Carolina. He always enjoyed going whether far away or riding with his grandson Rodney on a Sunday afternoon around New Bern. We are so blessed to have had him visit in our home for two weeks recently which gives us good memories to cherish. Of course, nothing can compare to Mr. French's final trip to Heaven where he is reunited with his wife and all of his loved ones. He has been a fine father-in-law to me for the past 46 years, and I shall miss him.

Uncle Rodman lived his life for The Lord and carried out God's purpose for his life.  He set a wonderful example of showing Jesus love to his family and friends.  He spread the message of salvation through the life he lived.  Uncle Rodman is in Heaven today and many others will go to Heaven because they trusted Jesus as their Savior because of his witness.

The Lord has a reason for everything He does and I am so thankful His Plan for my life included giving me a dad like Rodman French.  He has been a real blessing in my life.  He taught me the Sovereign Grace of God, and he always provided for his 5 daughters the best he could.  He shaped who we are and we will sadly miss him.   I am blessed with many fond memories of family times with daddy and my mom, Millie.  I am so thankful that long ago Pastor K. Alvin Pitt and one of dad's good friends, Jesse Banks, shared the Plan of Salvation with my daddy.  I can remember daddy getting down on his knees and accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.  Mom and daddy were always quick to give their testimony of salvation to others and they loved to study the Word of God. Daddy and mom left us a legacy of love and faith.  I am so thankful that I had my daddy so long.  I had the privilege of caring for daddy in his declining years .  He was truly a "Southern Gentleman", and a man of great faith. No matter how old we are, we still need our dads and wonder how we'll get by without them.  Thankfully, I am comforted by God's promise that I will see my daddy again, I Thess. 4:13-18.

My earthly life now has an empty spot with the passing of my mother Millie four years ago and now my daddy Rodman. I know in my mind that my loss is his gain, but my heart grieves at not seeing his teasing grin and hearing his funny comments. He exemplified such humility and grace particularly in the final chapters of his life and modeled a tremendous kindness to everyone. His love for the Lord and the Word of God were so evidenced in his life. My daddy was very social and thoroughly enjoyed all the folks who would drop by his home. His daily habits included having the obituary as well as the Bible read to him. Most of his friends had already passed away. One of his favorite friends, Tom Poole, remained close, and they shared the same birthday along with many, many hunting stories . An important spiritual theme to my father was that you could have assurance of your salvation. He would call me often to remind him where his witnessing verses were: Rom.8:16;IIPet.1:10;IJohn 5:13. Daddy wanted everyone he met to know without doubt that through faith in Jesus Christ our salvation is assured now and throughout eternity. Thanks to all who showed him love in so many ways. What a personal blessing for me to know I will see him again!
I love you Daddy.

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow...Uncle Rodman has been a inspiration in my life...(to me & my brothers)by the way he lived his life..& the love of God from his heart that he shared with many people..I will never forget the times we went swimming there & the huge pots of blue crabs that Aunt Millie cooked & the time they took my invalid grandmother in for a few weeks...& we were able to spend some time with my aunt Rosa in Beaufort...He will be for always in my memories and Heart...!!!
Herman Turnage,Jr.....Ernul,N.C.

My thoughts are with Cousin Rodman's family and friends as they mourn his passing.  Sincerely, Cousin David French, DavidAFrench@gmail.com

I have fond memories of Uncle Rodman and truly respect him as a man of God. May God bless and comfort all of his daughters and loved ones.

We are so sorry to realize how many years have passed since our families visited---truly does make one wonder where time goes. My grandmother Bertha Davenport Russell was sister to Emma Davenport French and I dearly loved Aunt Emma as a child. We are still living in my grandparents' home at Russell's Creek just outside of Beaufort where Rodman visited & played many times!  With love to you all, Craig & Carol Garner Cannon

So sorry to hear of your sad loss of Rodman.He was one swell person and will be greatly missed by all. My love and prayers are with you all.    

Love Joyce (Salter) Herrle 
Morehead City,N.C.

We are so sorry for your loss. Rodman was a wonderful person. Your family will be in our thoughts and prayers.

Brenda French & Family

God Bless Rodman and his family.
We are sure he will be missed but never forgotten.

Billy and Nancy Salter

Herman & family, so sorry for your loss, please take comfort in knowing he is now where he strived to be his entire life home with God.

Mr.French was such a wonderful servant of God and a great friend to my daddy, Robert Booth. He is rejoicing in Heaven. God bless the family.

OBITUARIO

Charles Rodman French

25 agosto, 1917 – 3 enero, 2014

Cotten Funeral Home

Muestre su apoyo

Comparta Un Recuerdo

Comparta
Un Obituario

Obtenga actualizaciones

Servicios