Mrs. Loretta B. Rhodes

Ms. Loretta Rhodes was born in New Orleans, Louisiana as the youngest of four siblings. Her parents moved the family to Mandeville because her mother thought New Orleans was "a wicked city to raise children in." Their family's house sat on a massive amount of land that was perfect for her to do what she loved most, ride her horse.

Loretta was close to all of her siblings, but especially Genevieve because she was 18 years older and acted like a second mother to her.

Loretta enjoyed growing up in the country and being able to be outside so much of the time.

Country life meant living far away from the conveniences of life, but Loretta enjoyed that. However, it had its disadvantages because when she was injured by a gamecock when she was feeding them and there was no way to get to the hospital, her sisters put a feather mattress in a wheelbarrow, covered her with an umbrella and wheeled her out to the highway to get a ride to the hospital.

Loretta was a model for 27 years. She came to Washington D.C. in 1942. She started the Fairfax Model Agency in 1965 and actively directed the daily operations. She was honored in Washington D.C., Boston, Massachusetts and New Orleans, Louisiana.

Loretta has two sons (one is deceased), six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Loretta enjoyed cooking, flower arranging and spending time with her grandchildren.

Loretta moved here from Florida to be closer to her family.