‘Her Children rise up and call her blessed!’ … Prov.31:28
Andre’ Olivia Gore Rhodes, beloved mother, enchanting daughter, awesome sister and fantastic friend, was born to her destiny and legacy on Jan. 14, 1950, to the late Alberta Doss Gore and Carol Gore. Our “Andre'” went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015.
She attended Trenholm High School, where she was a majorette who twirled her batons of fire with pride and grace! She was a pioneer. She along with her older sister and best friend, Michelle, joined a group of young, eager and intelligent students who became the first African Americans to integrate Deshler High School in Tuscumbia, Alabama. She graduated with a B.S. Degree in Social Work from the University of North Alabama.
Her love and passion for children was legendary as she devoted herself to Christ and the church by working with and for the Youth Program at her chosen church home – St. Luke United Methodist Church. She began the first Girl Scouts at the Kilby Laboratory School of UNA and was “den mother” for the troop. At St. Luke she was also active in the United Methodist Women’s Organization.
She believed in hard work, and she made a living working hard. She was a manager for Pizza Hut for 24 years. If you called her store ‘Miss Andre’ made sure your pizza was made right! On her job she met and helped so many people in various wonderful ways.
Andre’ was faithful! Andre’ loved the Lord, and the Lord loved her. She used the talent he gave her in a mighty way. She sang for the Lord in a beautiful tenor voice. When she was young, she sang in the church choir and the Muscle Shoals Mass Choir. Lately, she shared her talents with her adopted church home, Lesley Temple CME, where she sang her last solo, “It Is Well With My Soul.” Her faith made her whole.
Andre’ is resting in the bosom of the Lord with her infant son, Anthony Rhodes Jr; mother, Alberta Gore; father, Carol Gore; brothers, Byron and Keith Gore; and grandparents, Reverend John Andrew and Julia Doss, and Joseph and Georgia Anna Gore.
She is survived by two daughters, Angelique’ Rhodes and Adia Rhodes, both of Alexandria, Virginia; three sisters, Carole Simmons, Atlanta, Georgia, Elaine Jones and Edna Finley, both of Tuscumbia, Alabama; two brothers, John Gore, Huntsville, Alabama, and Gene Washington, Boston, Massachusetts; a special aunt and uncle/parents, Alyce and Lelton Brown, Tuscumbia, Alabama; four aunts, Rubye Peach (Matt), Kansas City, Missouri, Stacia Camp, Brooklyn, New York, Dorothy and Lizzie Doss, Yspilanti Michigan, and Mary Thompson, Florence, Alabama; six nieces and two nephews, Joy Simmons, Starrnisha Harrell, Bianca Payne (Willie), Melissa Dixon, Leneer Finley, Julie Dixon, Toilana Davis and Tyler Jones; a host of great-nieces and nephews and other relatives; special sisters, Ouida Brown, Kim Cole, Edith Rutland and Mae Stringfellow; a special daughter, Jennifer Stringfellow; and a host of other adopted children; and a very special friend, Chris Morgan.
Visitation will be 5-6 p.m. Monday at Thompson and Son Funeral Home, Tuscumbia.
The funeral service will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015, at Lesley Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Tuscumbia. The body will be placed in the church at noon. Public viewing will be Monday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thompson and Son Funeral Home, Tuscumbia, directing.
