Evelyn Rhoden

Evelyn Rhoden, 78, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sept. 8, 2012 while at Northeast Community Hospice Acosta-Rua Center. Evelyn was born March 30, 1934 in Eastman, Ga. and moved to Jacksonville at the age of 6. She married Aubrey Rhoden in 1949. They had 53 wonderful years of marriage. Evelyn retired from Astor Products, a division of Winn-Dixie in 1999, with more than 30 years of service. She was an active member of First Baptist Church of Jacksonville where she faithfully served. She passionately worked with the nursery ministry, loving and caring for babies for five decades. Following Aubrey's death in 2003, she started volunteering at the Acosta-Rua center as a way to give back for the care that was provided to her late husband. Evelyn loved to travel with her family and was able to see every state in America, as well as many other countries. She loved the mountains, and her favorite destinations were the Canadian Rockies and Swiss Alps. Her greatest joy, however, came from being both a mother and Nana to her five grandsons and five great-grand children. In addition to Aubrey, she was preceded in death by parents, Clark & Willie Mae Foster, her best friend and sister, Thelma, and brother, Claude. She is survived by her daughters, Patti Hale (Willard, her son-in-love) and Lori Scarborough; five grandsons, Ash Hale (Elizabeth), Aaron Hale (Leslie), Robert Scarborough (Tessa), Andy Hale (Jennifer) and William Scarborough; five great-grandchildren, Parker, Andrew & Kaitlyn Hale, Madison Hale and Karessa Scarborough. She is also survived by in-laws, whom she thought of as sisters and brothers, Yvonne Sikes, June Rhoden, Ann Rhoden, Darrell & Lavera Rhoden, Jennie Rickard, Dot Foster and Mary Foster, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 11, at Hardage-Giddens Town & Country Funeral Home, 7242 Normandy Blvd., Jacksonville, FL. Funeral Service will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 12, in the Chapel of Hardage-Giddens Town & Country Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Riverside Memorial Park. Her grandson the Rev. Andy Hale will officiate. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, her friend Porter Barnes and brother-in-law Darrell. In lieu of flowers, donations to celebrate and honor her life can be made to Northeast Community Hospice.