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James Rhodes was born on February 2, 1952 in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. His parents, Mary Anne Rhodes and Travis Dean Rhodes later moved to Morgan City, Louisiana where James enjoyed growing up with his two sisters, Suzanne Rhodes Feske and Sarah-Lynne Rhodes McLaughlin. James’ mother noticed his artistic talent at a young age and enrolled him in art classes at a local studio where he excelled.

James spent his teen years helping his dad at the Mobil Helicopter facility where his dad was the head of helicopter operations worldwide. A love for flight and mechanics was born there as he helped out around the helicopter hanger.

James enjoyed participating on the Morgan City High School football team as the quarterback until an injury prevented him from continuing to play. Undaunted by the setback, he began participating in the golf team and became the captain of the golf team his senior year. He actively participated in the Methodist Youth Fellowship at his church.

James excelled in mathematics but it was his love for art that compelled him to pursue a college degree in Graphic Design and Marketing at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Later, he felt strongly directed by God to attend Oral Roberts University. He met Laura Skinner Rhodes, his wife, just days after arriving, and always said that meeting Laura was the reason he went to ORU. While a student at ORU, James enjoyed helping to design and create the television sets for the ORU TV specials that were popular in the 1970’s. After attending ORU, James completed his studies at Tulsa University.

James and Laura married on March 3,1974 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They were blessed with a daughter, Rebecca Rhodes Ladikos in 1979 and a son, James Caleb Rhodes in 1983. James enjoyed every stage of their children’s lives. James celebrated his kids and supported whatever they were interested in. He cheered at volleyball games, baseball games, basketball games, downhill mountain biking competitions, and he put in ear plugs as he took his children to their favorite music concerts as teens. He was a FUN Dad!

After moving to Georgia in 1985, James enjoyed designing and building spaces for people to live, work, and play, through his design/build firm, Rhodes Design Group. Many of his clients became lifelong friends. James also relished leading and participating in many men’s small groups at North Point Community church and other area fellowships.

In recent years, Laura enrolled him in art classes and he rediscovered his love of art in pastel paintings. The paintings were created simply for family, grandchildren,  and charity events.

James and Laura enjoyed a love that never faded and only grew more meaningful with each passing year and they were married for almost 48 years. James leaves a rich legacy of love and faith to his family who he celebrated every day.

He is survived by his wife, Laura Skinner Rhodes; his mother, Mary-Anne Cornwall Rhodes; a daughter and her husband, Rebecca and Nick Ladikos; a son and his wife, Caleb and Kelsey Rhodes; 4 grandchildren; Sophia Rhodes, Lilly Rhodes, Alexa Ladikos, and Noah Rhodes; a sister and her husband, Suzanne and Tom Feske; a sister and her husband, Sarah-Lynne and Robert McLaughlin; in-laws, Clarence and Rose Skinner, brother-in-law and his wife, Bud and Laura Belle Skinner, brother-in-law and his wife, Mark and Christine Skinner; and numerous nieces and nephews.

James was a man who loved deeply and his legacy of faith in God will continue through his children, grandchildren, and family.

A Celebration of Life will be held at North Point Community Church on Thursday, October 28th, 2021 at 11 a.m. The service will also be available to watch live: https://northpointministries.zoom.us/j/98561909721

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to two ministries that were close to James’ heart:

Keystone Village

https://keystonevillage.org/

Surge Project

https://surgeproject.com/

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