Rhoena T. Harmon

Rhoena was preceded in death by her loving husband, Franklin Zachariah Harmon, and one son, Edward “Eddie” Franklin Harmon. She is survived by her three daughters Maxine Stone Richardson of Rocky Mount, VA; Mary-Ann Stone Walker of Danville, VA; and Lavonda Harmon Eggleston of Cary, NC.

She was born on January 22, 1930, in Franklin County, Virginia, to the late Harry and Velma Thompson. Rhoena was the oldest of six children. She was preceded in death by her sister Judy Thompson Feazelle, and her brothers Mack Thompson, H.B Thompson, and Jimmy Thompson. She is survived by her sister Carl Jean Duncan of Martinsville, VA.

In 1954, Rhoena married Franklin, the love of her life, and moved with him to New York, NY, where he was stationed in the Army. After a year, they returned to Virginia, where they worked together to build a beautiful life and raise their family.

Rhoena had a career in sewing at Bassett-Walker, Jessup Upholstery, and other manufacturers. However, her true calling and focus was her home, her family, her many friends, and her church. She found her greatest happiness when surrounded by loved ones - enjoying a good conversation over a cup of coffee, a family gathering during the holidays, a pot-luck dinner at church, or having fun at the bowling alley.

She cherished gazing out over the ocean from a balcony in Myrtle Beach, and her summers were not complete without a week of relaxation near the surf, basking in the sun.

Later in life Rhoena and Franklin moved for a time to Hickory, NC, again building a wonderful community of friends. But when they retired, they returned to their roots in Collinsville to be closer to family. They were blessed with a loving marriage that lasted over 60 years until Franklin’s death in 2016.

Rhoena leaves a lasting legacy through her six grandchildren: Brad Hickman, Lee Richardson, Catina Hickman, Amy Richardson-Martin, Erica Kaiser, and Kristin Judge. She was also blessed with many great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews who brought joy and laughter into her life.

Rhoena and her husband were active members of Stone Memorial Christian Church in Collinsville, VA, and during their time in Hickory, they helped found First Christian Church of Newton, NC. She had a deep love for singing in the choir and ministering to others. Although unable to physically attend in recent years, her love of the Lord remained unwavering.

A Graveside Service to celebrate her life will be held at 2:00 PM on October 7th at Roselawn Burial Park.

Following the service, the family extends a warm invitation to all guests to join them at Rhoena's home to share memories and offer support.