Don't Keep Keys in the Frig...

I am having a difficult time pointing out one memory, because there are so many, but this one I'll never forget.

The day I couldn't find my car keys.

Melvin, my husband and I looked everywhere; we even pulled out the trash at least three times before Melvin had to take a break and wash his hands. 

I finally remembered that I put them in the refrigerator.

I called out, "Melvin, I found them."

"Where were they?" he asked.

"They were in the frig."

He said, "Well, I even looked in there."

After that, he reminded my husband to make sure to take the extra set of keys home with him.

I'll never forget all of the good your Daddy did for so many. 

Love,  Lois

Waymon

 We had a great time growing up together.  I miss my friend - 

In the 9th grade, we took Ag (agriculture) - Melvin knew everything already - he knew all the answers & we "city slickers" didn't know a thing. He made an "A"  - we all barely made "C"s.  We were just glad to be out of Mr. Herring's class - but Melvin loved it because it was so easy for him - 

Thanks, Waymon

Clowning around.

This was the family Christmas card photo in 1999.

We were in clown costumes for Alexandrea's "special" birthday (she turned five on the fifth). What you don't see in this picture, is that our entire family was in costume.

So, here are the pictures to prove that we take clowning around very seriously. Dad was actually almost always a good sport about dressing in costume, (especially when the request came from one of his girls or grands).









Once in costume, Dad really got into his character, as you can see.

Harolyn

My memories of Melvin are 100% positive. Any time a person's name came up for discussion, he either said something complimentary or he said nothing. Likewise, when controversial or politically - explosive subjects entered the conversation, he managed to interject a little humor and made us smile. 

He truly added sunshine to our life!

Harolyn

School Days

For those of you (like me) who never knew Daddy without his mustache,
here are some treasures from the family archives.

Wow - what a difference a year makes!

The beginnings of crow's feet
- at SIXTEEN!
(Must be from the ever-present smile.)

1950's Snowman - Update!

I'm hoping that one of my aunts will be able to tell us why (and how) this snowman has such long arms. As with most things, Daddy probably had a story about it...

Dad's sister explained: As for the snowman, it had a plank stuck through it which he packed snow around to make arms for the snowman. Before, we had always put sticks for arms. I was in high school, so he was probably in junior high.

The really fascinating part of this story, for me, happened when I found this picture from 1992. According to Alyson, Dad helped her build the arms - the same way he had 40 years earlier!

Best Hog

from the Clarion-Ledger

Thursday, March 29, 1962

BEST HOG - The grand champion individual market hog of the recent Southeast Mississippi Livestock and Poultry Show at Forest was shown by Melvin Rhodes 16-year-old 4-H Club member from Brandon. It was a lightweight Duroc. Melvin also exhibited the grand champion pen of three market hogs. - Extension Service Photo

George

Melvin continues to do an outstanding job as a 4-H'er wherever he goes. I know you must be extremely proud of him.

I know he will learn a great deal on his trip -

Congratulations,

George

April 1964

Natalie

Melvin weaves in and out of the many memories accumulated during my more than thirty years in Starkville. 

• My earliest Starkville memories include riding around in the Len-Lew's parking lot on the back of some kind of small motorcycle (mo-ped?) that Melvin was giving people rides on and of seeing Tiffiny as a toddler standing on the bar at the Golden Horn. 
• Then there were the many conversations with Melvin on all kinds of topics when I saw him around town and the tours of old houses he was renovating. 
• With my move to White Drive came many more interactions with Melvin. I always felt good about that neighborhood because I knew that Melvin was watching out for it. 
• I remember the night when I had just gotten back into town and Melvin and Jan knocked on my door to tell me about the ghost that had called 911 while I was gone. 
• I remember learning from Melvin how to get rid of the stumps of fence posts by burning them with charcoal.
• I remember how dashing Melvin looked when he and Lady rode up at Lady and Matt's beautiful outdoor wedding. 

My list of memories could go on and on - including remembering something Jan said to me one time:

"Melvin is not just my husband; he's also my best friend."

What a beautiful relationship they had.

I simply cannot imagine Starkville without Melvin Rhodes!

Natalie

Sara

Although I didn't know Melvin as well as Jan, I do remember talking with him occasionally when he was very busy renovating a house. His talents and accomplishments are outstanding.

The faithful Christmas letters through the years portray him as a loving and caring husband, father, and grandfather. 

Our community has endured a great loss, but we are thankful for the memories and the gifts he has left us. 

Sara

Teacher

Most people know that Dad had a lot of jobs over the course of his life. (We used to joke about trying to make a complete list of them when he retired. Now that he won't be switching careers anymore, I would still like to finish that list, but I don't know that there is anyone who knows all the jobs Dad held through the years. ) One of the things that not a lot of people know is that Daddy graduated from Mississippi College with a degree in accounting. However, the way I understand it, he minored in all of the sciences they offered. I don't know if it was because of that formal education, but Dad had a way of applying the concepts of science to the here and now that most people just don't have. There are several phrases that we learned as little girls that I didn't truly understand until I was in college.

Some of Dad's favorites:

Gravity works.
Metal remembers.
Inertia.

Let me explain.
There were times I would think that I needed to secure something to the floor - say for example, a rug. Dad would find this to be unnecessary, because, "gravity works."

If a metal part on something was bent - in this case, let's say it was a fender - Dad would suggest that we "coax" it back into place, because, "metal remembers."

If you expressed concern about crossing a wooden bridge that had looked like it was about to fall in for as long as you have been alive, Dad would simply remind you that it was easier for the bridge to hold together than to fall down, because of inertia. (An object at rest stays at rest...).

He taught us to look at things in ways other people never see them.
He helped us to see the big picture.

So, in addition to the many other jobs Dad had, he was an amazing teacher.

Chelle

It has taken me a very long time to get to where I could verbalize exactly what Melvin meant to me and what I will remember the most.  it's hard to put into words.  

I can remember the first time I met him...it was Lorraine's graduation from MSMS.  The thing I remember the most is that he scared me to death.  He was so confident and strong.  I don't know why I expected anything else - knowing Lorraine as I did. 

I have a special memory of Melvin that I get to relive every single day when I walk in the back door of my house.  Melvin had made these wooden door mats for the Rhodes' house.  When I was down to visit one time I commented on how much I liked them.  He said he'd made them and they were easy to make.  I started quizzing him on how he did it, the tools he used, etc.  He asked me, "You wanna make one?  I'll show you how."  The next day, Melvin made a mat with me watching and then left me to make another.  It was the first time I'd ever used a table saw or a nail gun.  There were only brads in the nail gun, but that thing scared me to death.  I know Poppa had to be laughing his head off at me.  Thinking back, maybe that's why he left me alone outside to finish my mat - so he could watch me through the window and get a giggle. 

I have so many memories of Poppa.  He always talked to me like I was an adult - no matter how old I was.  He made me feel smart.  Every time something went wrong with my car, he was there.  Every time I needed advice on a house project, he was there.   

I will always remember the way that he looked at me when I held Alexandrea when she was a baby.  It was one of those looks of gratitude, love and amazement at this little being that would be a part of our lives from then on.   

As I got older and started looking for a husband myself, I remember consciously thinking about how strong Jan and Melvin's relationship was.  How I wanted to find someone that after 35 years I still wanted to hold hands with.   

I hate that I didn't get to tell Poppa goodbye, because I will truly miss him.