Mrs. Peccola W. "Momma P" "P Rhodes" Rhodes

RHODES, Mrs. Peccola W. - Age 87, passed away Saturday, February 15, 2014 at her residence. Family hour 10a.m. Friday, February 28, 2014 from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., with funeral service at 11a.m. Pastor Kenneth L. Stewart officiating. Interment Gracelawn Community Cemetery, G-5710 N. Saginaw St. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the funeral home 10am Friday. Mrs. Rhodes will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, and may be viewed from 12p.m.-8p.m. Thursday. Peccola (“Mama P”) W. Rhodes, 87 years “young”, went home to be with the Lord on February 15, 2014. She was born April 28, 1926 to William and Arlena Stubbs in Brinkley, Arkansas, the oldest of three siblings. She was a life-long resident of the City of Flint since age three. “Mama P” was a hidden beacon of political influence with numerous elected officials, many of whom were elected with her “silent” campaign methods. A “student” of Georgia Heights who was a local political icon in the black community, “Mama P’ worked hard to help those she thought would contribute more positively to the quality of life for minorities. These persons included the first black mayor of Flint, Floyd McCree, Councilman Fred Tucker, Genesee County Commissioner Nate Turner, Mayor James Rutherford, Prosecutor Robert Weiss, and her good friend Judge Harry McAra. She was closely involved in the election of the first black member of the Flint Board of Education, Helen Harris. The list is endless. Her force of influence was timeless. Ms. Rhodes was the first of her parents’ three children: Nora Hazel and Cornell. Her father-in-law, Rev. Matthew Montgomery, was one of the founders of Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. “Mama P” leaves to cherish her memory: daughter, Marion Mathews; 4 grandchildren, Roderick Johnson, Sharonlyn (Lee) King, Peccola (Darryl) Taylor, and Nora Perez; 12 great-grandchildren, Rowena (Damiann), Michael, Elyse, Kolly, Jacqueline, Darryl, Daneisa, Luke, Deonta, Anthony, Ralpheall, Timothy, 7 great-great grand children; Amarion, Jaysen, Jayse, Annevah, Aniyah, VeeMarie and Armoni; a host of relatives and friends who will miss her guiding light that she so often shined upon others, including her special cousin Joan Montgomery Lewis. Mrs. Rhodes was preceded in death by: her husband, Armstead; 2 daughters, Dolphine Glass and Lena Sue Murry; grandchild, Iva Maxine Johnson; great-grandchild, “Jackie” Johnson; and her parents.

Mrs. Peccola W. "Momma P" "P Rhodes" Rhodes

April 28, 1926 - February 15, 2014