William Rhodes

William Spencer "Bill" Rhodes, age 98, passed away July 14, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. He was born June 30, 1926, in Atlanta, Georgia to Thomas Melvin Rhodes and Mattie Lee Thrasher Rhodes.

Bill graduated from Atlanta Boys' High School in 1944, Emory University Law School in 1950, and Georgia State University in 1954.

Bill served in the U.S. Navy in WWII and the Korean War and was a member of the U.S.S Frank Knox DDR 742 Reunion Association.

As an attorney from 1950 until 2016, Bill believed success was in how many people he was able to help and not in how much money he might have made. He volunteered legal services to more than one hundred churches, more than 100 ministers, more than 100 missionaries, and many more.

At different times for over 60 years, beginning in the 1950's, Bill held Baptist Laymen positions with Capital View Baptist Church, Briarlake Baptist Church, Briarcliff Baptist Church, Atlanta Baptist Association, Georgia Baptist Convention, Atlanta Baptist College/Mercer University, Southern Baptist Convention, Norman Junior College, Baptist World Alliance, and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Georgia.

He also served on the Board of Directors of Books for the World, Yazoo City, MS, Macedonian Call Foundation, Boys' High Alumni Association, and King's Bridge Retirement Center.

Bill loved to travel and visited all 159 counties in Georgia, all 50 of the United States and several territories, and more than 60 foreign countries.

Bill was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Fay Ball Rhodes, who died in 2004. Also, his sisters: Anne Rhodes Dishner, Mary Virginia Rhodes Gormley, Brothers: Travis Melvin Rhodes and Frank Gerald Rhodes.

He is survived by brother, C.J. (Charlie) Rhodes, children William Clinton "Clint" Rhodes, Ivy Rhodes Darnall (Klaus), Kathy Rhodes Davis (Bob), and Rebecca "Becca" Rhodes Hayes (Ashton); his grandchildren: Clinton Hall Rhodes, Elizabeth Weck Darnall, Taylor Rhodes Polky (Sylvanus), Whitney Davis Arnall (Justin), Mary Chandler "M.C." Rhodes, Kelsey Davis Hanna (Will),William Parker Rhodes (Christie), William James Hayes, and Zachary George Hayes, and 8 great grandchildren.

Funeral Arrangements handled by A.S. Turner & Sons, Decatur Georgia.

Visitation will be Friday 7/19/24 from 10:00am - 11:00am followed by the Funeral Service at 11:00am.

In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to:

1st Baptist Church of Decatur, 308 Clairmont Rd, Decatur, Ga 30030, or Kingsbridge Retirement Community, 3055 Briarcliff Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30329