Evelyn Rhodes Shupe Johnson

Evelyn Ovedia Rhodes Shupe Johnson, age 81, died on July 7, 2010 at home surrounded by her loving family. She was born and grew up in Pineview, GA, graduating from Pineview High School in 1946. She was a resident of Brunswick, Georgia for 50 years.

She met her husband, Robert (Bob) D. Shupe when he was a paratrooper in the Army in Ft. Bragg, NC, and she worked in the PX on the base. They were married in April, 1949, and resided in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Florida before making their home in Glynn County in 1960. She was a devoted wife to Bob until his death in 1989 and together they raised five children, daughter Cheryl Southerland (Mike), Grand Island, FL; daughter Barbara Hilley (John), Chesapeake Beach, MD; and from Brunswick, GA, son Robert (Bobby) Shupe (Donna); daughter Patti Crawford (Benny); and her baby daughter, Mitzi Smith (Danny). She believed that her greatest accomplishments in life were her grandchildren, and she is lovingly survived by Chris Crosby, Craig Crosby, Nathan Shupe, Niki Shupe, Baron Smith, Blake Smith and Belle Smith. Step-grandchildren include Abbi Johnson, Kirby Johnson, Brianna Imbergamo, Carol Hilley and Matt Hilley.

In 1997, she met the second love of her life, Emory Roy Johnson, and following an exciting courtship, they were married in March 1998. She welcomed into her life step-son Lee Johnson (Allison), St. Augustine, FL, and step-son Dale Johnson (Tara), Orange Park, FL. Evelyn and Emory created a new life together that was based on faith, love and companionship, surrounded by the families they had nurtured over the years, and with a new desire and excitement to go, see and do all the things they had ever dreamed about. And, boy, did they have fun. Their travels included trips to Holland, Hawaii, the State of Washington, Nova Scotia, Puerto Rico, Las Vegas, Washington, DC, Maryland, Belgium and the Bahamas, just to mention a few. And yet there was always time for the things they loved the most: their children, their grandchildren, their extended family and their friends.

In her professional life, Evelyn was Assistant Registrar at Brunswick College (now The College of Coastal Georgia) from 1967 to 1989, where she had the opportunity to touch many lives. She was a long-time member of McKendree Methodist Church where she served as a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher for the children, a member of the choir, and in various capacities, including President of the United Methodist Women. Most recently, she has attended Arco United Methodist Church as a faithful member. Evelyn knew the Lord as her personal Savior and was committed to sharing her faith with her children, grandchildren and friends. She was a loving Christian that gave the glory to God and would quickly tell you there was nothing to worry about in life if you always, simply trusted in the Lord.

Her other interests included a love for gardening, especially growing roses; playing cards with her grandkids and her friends, and she was a great cook.

Additionally, she is survived with great affection by brother James Rhodes, Jr., Columbus, GA, brother Tharpe Rhodes (Martha), Pineview, GA, sister Betty Ruth Kicklighter (Bobby), Glenville, GA, and a large group of devoted nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Leanna Rhodes, husband Bob Shupe, beloved granddaughter Natalie Ruth Shupe, brother Olin F. Rhodes, sister Lorene Rhodes Tripp, and nephew Terry Rhodes.

Evelyn was the kind of person that left an impression on everyone that met her. Knowing her could change your life. She could do it all – she could make you laugh, she could make you cry, she could make you think, she could make you get over feeling sorry for yourself, she could motivate you to do your best, she could teach you how to love the Lord and how to take care of one another, and, most of all, she could make you feel like you were the most important person in the whole, wide world to her.

“All that I am or ever will be, I owe to my Mother.” –Abraham Lincoln

Funeral Services will be held at 11 AM Saturday 7/10/10 in the Chapel of the Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home with Rev. George Herndon and Rev. Rob Grotheer officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery,

Active pallbearers will be her nephews, Jerry Rhodes, Dewey Rhodes, Jim Rhodes, Tim Rhodes, Tony Rhodes, James Miller, Bob Kicklighter, Brant Kicklighter, Billy Tripp and Joe Tripp. Honorary pallbearers will be: John and Debra Patterson, Richard and Lynn Doyle, Billie and Ellie Weeks, Elmer and Ida Lee Box, Charles and Carolyn McCollum, Joe and Betty Slaughter, Jack and Ann Rivers, Pat Smith, Sue Strayer, Dr. Duane Moores, Dr. David Heines, Ronnie and Jan Smith, Marie Stewart and Cora Lee Hannah.

The family request in lieu of flowers memorial to the Hospice of the Golden Isles, or Arco United Methodist Church in Brunswick. The family will receive friends in the Funeral Home from 6 to 8 PM Friday.