Mrs. Ferrell is preceded in death by: one brother, Oscar Campbell, Jr.; Three children, Daisy, John Jr. and Thomas Rhodes; Two grandchildren, Mario Gibson and Ashley Jones. She leaves to cherish her memories: her devoted children, Joann(Travis)Wilson, Marie Jones, Josephine(Eddie)Marzett, Rosie McKinnis, Dorothy(Willie)Caves, George(Theda)Rhodes, Will(Tiffany)Rhodes, Mammie(Clarence)Lucious. Three loving sisters: Willie M. Henderson, Ella M. Williams, and Iola(James)Murphy. Sixteen grandchildren: Joann(Steve)Chaney, Amos(Marquetta)O'Neal, Priscella(Kenny)Montfort, Tammy(Dan)Williams, Marzette(Dawn)McKinnis, Matthew(Makeysha)McKinnis, Janice(Benjamin)Bailey, Brandolyn(LaJana)Marzett, Antonio Jones, Courtney Rhodes, Keysila McKinnis, Jasmine Rhodes, Jamaal Rhodes, Alaya Rhodes, Ayana Rhodes, and Nicholas Rhodes. Eighteen great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. 





THE ATHLETE    

 

LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE STORY

ABOUT THIS WOMAN WHO IS VERY DEAR TO ME

YOU SEE, SHE WAS AN ATHLETE

AND HER COACH, EXCELLENT AT WHAT HE DO

HE'S A GREAT TEACHER, LISTENER, PROVIDER

A MAN THAT LOVES, PROTECTS, AND WILL BE WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES

HE HAS TRAINED THIS WOMAN TO BECOME SOMETHING GRAND,

GIVING, DETERMINED, STRONG, AND PASSIONATE ABOUT EVERYTHING SHE DOES

 

HE HAD BEEN HER COACH FOR YEARS NOW

AND CONSTANTLY PREPARED HER FOR THE ULTIMATE EVENT 

SHE KNEW THERE WOULD BE MANY CHALLENGES TO FACE,

KNOWING THAT THE PATH TO VICTORY WASN'T GOING TO BE EASY

BUT SHE WAS DEDICATED

 

SHE TRAINED EVERYDAY 

SHE TOOK HER EQUIPMENT, STUDIED IT, KNEW IT

AND MADE IT A PART OF HER

BECAUSE SHE KNEW THAT WITHOUT IT, SHE COULDN'T WIN THE FIGHT

THIS WOMAN IS A WINNER, EVERYONE KNEW ABOUT HER,

PEOPLE LOOKED UP TO HER, BUT SHE LOOKED UP TO HER COACH,

FOR HE WAS THE MAN WHO HAD GOTTEN HER WHERE SHE WAS

 

SHE WAS PROUD OF EVERY ACCOMPLISHMENT,

EVERY FIGHT WON,

EVERY REWARD THAT CAME FROM HER BATTLES,

SOME EASIER THAN OTHERS, YET SHE MADE IT THROUGH

BUT THE ULTIMATE EVENT WAS NEAR

SHE HAD PREPARED, SHE WAS READY

AND WHEN THE FIGHT CAME 

WITH THE TUNE PLAYING WITHIN HER,

SHE REPEATED TO HERSELF:

IF NO ONE ELSE MAKES IT, SURELY I WILL

SHE FOUGHT TO VICTORY 

AND THEN UNEXPECTANTLY, SHE DECIDED TO RETIRE

 

THIS WOMAN WAS AN ATHLETE 

BECAUSE SHE WAS FOCUSED ON ONE GOAL- THE GOLDEN AWARD

SHE HAS RAN THE RACE,

FOUGHT THE FIGHT,

JUMPED THE HURDLES

HER NAME HAS BEEN PLACED IN THE BOOK

SHE TOOK THE WEIGHTS THAT WAS AROUND HER

LIFTED THEM WITH HER COACH BY HER SIDE

AND IN TURN 

THEY GAVE HER STRENGTH TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT OBSTACLE

SHE BECAME STRONG ENOUGH TO HELP PROTECT HER LOVED ONES

BEING ABLE TO DO EXACTLY WHAT HER COACH HAD DONE FOR HER

LOVE, TEACH, LISTEN, PROVIDE.....

NOW IT IS TIME FOR HER TO REST

---RIP GRANDMOTHER, I LOVE YOU



by Courtney Ayfomni Rhodes