Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day
2 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV
On November 27, 1929, John Randle and Elizabeth Parks-Randle, received a gift from heaven, named Marjorie Lorene Randle. Little did they know a queen was born and the world would never be the same.
At an early age, Marjorie joined and was baptized at St. John College Heights Baptist Church, where she played the piano for the youth choir. She later moved her membership to Webberville Ebenezer Baptist Church under the pastoral-ship of Reverend R.S. Tinnon. The church later relocated to Austin and was named New Light Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of Pastor Rev. Frank Cage, Sr. She served as Secretary of the Sunday School and Baptist Training Union and was active in the Senior Mission as the mission secretary. She also sung in the choir and assisted with the kitchen hospitality ministry. Marjorie was an active and working member of the Deaconess as well as the Deaconess advisor. Her task was to assist all, current and incoming deaconess, with training on deaconess and communion aspects.
She attended school in the Austin Independent School District. Marjorie later met and married James Sorrells and two daughters (Gloria & Barbara) were born. Marjorie began her journey in the workforce by being employed at the Austin Laundry, Austin, Texas. She later became manager at the Shamrock Cleaners in Austin, Texas. While working at the Austin Laundry, she met and married Eugene Rhodes in January 1956. As of January 31, 2018, they celebrated 62 years of marriage. Through that union a daughter (Beverly) was born.
Marjorie was a “people person” who took pride in pouring herself into the lives of the people she'd met. She wore a beautiful smile that would welcome you and make you feel at home. Marjorie never had to be asked, she would train and teach newcomers in the church on how to be delightful in serving the Lord. She made friends easily, assisted people with any need, and was a friend to many strangers. She was a mother figure to many. She exemplified the true sense of royalty by her walk, her talk and her deeds; both inside and outside the church as well as her home. She taught her family how to look for the good in a person in all situations. She was a virtuous woman as described in Proverbs 31:10-31. She had strength and people recognized her wisdom and knowledge.
Marjorie was preceded in death by her father, mother, husband, daughter, and great-grandson.
The matriarch of our family leaves to carry on her legacy; daughters, Dameki (Gloria) Nyeri-Batchelor (Terry) and Beverly Jackson-Brown; sister, Georgia Mae Warren; grandchildren, Scott Sorrells, Harry Washington Jr. (Tina), Tesha Middleton Washington, Michele Forest, Anthony Johnson, Philip Jackson, Reginald Johnson Jr. and Parese Brown; great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, great-great-great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
