Rhonda Lynn Balius

Rhonda Lynn Balius, 68, of Biloxi, Mississippi, passed away surrounded by her family on Monday, October 20, 2025.

Rhonda was born on August 26, 1957, in Biloxi, Mississippi, to her parents, Ronald Anthony Balius, Sr. and Melba O. Brumbaugh Balius. She attended Ocean Springs High School, graduating with the Class of 1976, where she was voted Most Athletic Girl in her senior year. During her time there, she was an active member of the school newspaper staff, student council, pep squad, tennis, track, basketball, and softball teams.

After high school, Rhonda attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College – Jackson County Campus, where she continued to excel as a member of the tennis team. Through a scholarship program, she went on to attend the University of Southern Mississippi, where she earned the title of Mississippi State Champion in tennis and represented USM in the national regional competition held in Tennessee.

A proud veteran of the United States Army, Rhonda served her country with dedication and honor as part of the 1355th S&S Co. Mississippi Army National Guard in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Following her service with the Army National Guard, she became an active-duty service member in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany for several years, where she held the rank of Sergeant (E-5).

After her time in the military, Rhonda continued her lifelong commitment to public service through her work as a Beautification Ground Maintenance Supervisor for the Parks and Recreation Department in the City of Biloxi. She later transferred to Donal Snyder Community Center where she concluded her career as a Center Supervisor. She took great pride in making her hometown a more beautiful place for everyone to enjoy and retired after 31 years of dedicated service.

Known for her generosity and selflessness, Rhonda was the kind of person who would do anything for anyone. She was always there to lend a helping hand to a neighbor or a friend, never expecting anything in return. Her kindness, loyalty, and sense of humor made her beloved by all who knew her.

Rhonda loved spending time outdoors and found peace and satisfaction in caring for the world around her. Whether at work or at home, she had an eye for beauty and took pride in keeping her surroundings vibrant and full of life.

Family was at the center of everything Rhonda did. She shared a close bond with her brother, Bubba, and her sister, Tina, and she adored her nieces and nephew, who brought her endless joy. She was the family’s biggest cheerleader, always ready with words of encouragement, laughter, or love.

Rhonda was preceded in death by her parents; her maternal grandparents, Alonzo and Melvina Gill Brumbaugh; and her paternal grandparents, Herman and Otis Middleton Conway and Floyd A. Balius, Sr.

She is survived by her brother, Ronald “Bubba” (Aline) Balius, Jr.; her sister, Tina Balius Cowart; her nieces, Olivia (Natalie) Geiser and Ashleen M. Balius; her nephew, Hunter A. Balius; and her many loving aunts and uncles.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, celebrating Rhonda’s giving spirit and love for others, or to the Humane Society of South Mississippi, reflecting her lifelong love of animals.

The family wishes to extend their sincere appreciation to the many doctors and staff of the Biloxi Veterans Administration, as well as to Dr. Ediz Tasan and his staff, for their dedication and kindness. Deepest thanks are also extended to the staff of Ocean Springs Hospital SICU and to Dr. Jason Williams and his team for their compassionate and attentive care. The family further expresses their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Gaye Stewart-Damron and her staff for their gentle care and enduring friendship toward our sister.

Those who knew Rhonda will remember her as a woman of quiet strength, endless compassion, and a heart that never stopped giving. Her legacy will live on in the beauty she helped create and the lives she touched along the way.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, 502 Jackson Ave., Ocean Springs, MS. Visitation will be from 12:00-12:45 p.m. in the church. Interment will follow at the Biloxi National Cemetery at 2:30 p.m.

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Homes is honored to serve the family of Rhonda Lynn Balius.