Alfred Carter "Al" Rhea Sr.

Alfred Carter Rhea Sr., 92, passed away peacefully in his sleep with loving family by his side. He had been living in Greenville the past 17 years. His late wife of 61 years, Patricia Warren Rhea was undoubtedly one of the first to hug him in heaven.
Al was born in Bristol, Tennessee to parents Helen Dulaney and James Wendell Rhea on March 16, 1931. He graduated from King College and UT Dental School. Al joined the Navy as a dental officer JG and became a lieutenant. His sea duty assignment was on the Roosevelt aircraft carrier. He opened a dental practice in Jacksonville, Florida where he met his beautiful bride. Al and Pat married in Jacksonville, Florida on December 20, 1958.
His love for Jesus and his ability to share the Good News to just about anybody was a gift that he used well. As members of First Baptist Church Jacksonville, both Al and Pat had tremendous influence working in the high school ministry. Many of the students who were in their Sunday School classes keep in touch with the family till this day. In September of 1972, after 17 years of dental work, Al felt called by God to minister in Africa. He sold his dental practice, packed up his family of six and joined Cru as career missionaries. Al and Pat spent a total of 21 years in Kenya and Uganda where God used them in various capacities. He worked alongside pastors from countries around Africa, sharing training materials that were not available in their countries. He later became the Kenya Country Director for Cru and worked with executives and diplomats. After 11 years in Kenya, Al and Pat were assigned to a remote village in Uganda. The people of Hoima embraced the Community Health Evangelism training that combined health with evangelism and discipleship. Bringing in supplies to help protect their water sources from disease, having vaccination clinics, workshops on healthy ways to garden; showed the people of that area love. Sharing the love of Jesus was readily heard by the locals.
War in Uganda ended and a new President came into power which brought peace. Al and Pat were assigned to the capital city of Kampala where they were asked to start an Executive Ministry and work with diplomats and executives. Doors were opened and quite shockingly they were well known because of the work they had been involved with in the small village of Hoima.
In 1995, Al and Pat returned to the U.S. with Cru and were assigned to the Christian Embassy in Washington, D.C. There they spent 10 years working with diplomats, ambassadors and their wives through Bible study, prayer ministry and hospitality.
In 2005, Al and Pat were assigned to the US Executive ministry in Greenville, SC. After 15 years, a natural opening came about with the prayer ministry. Al developed the Pray4Sea website at the ripe age of 79. He continued to contact, gather and distribute prayer requests from the Cru ministries in Southern Eastern Africa by using the Pray4Sea website and its Facebook page until this past June of 2023.
Moving to Greenville brought them closer to family and future grandchildren. Countless ball games, ballet recitals, plays, graduations and birthday parties were seen by Grandpapa and Grandmama Rhea. The grandchildren were able to be with Grandpapa this summer as he brushed up against heaven. His family will always be blessed by the memory of Papa Rhea, now with Mama Rhea, sitting in the stands cheering them on. Their comfort is rooted in the fact he is still cheering them on toward godliness and love of Jesus; he's just on a different stage with a better viewpoint.
Al is survived by his four children – daughter and son-in-law Nancy and Randy Baughman; son and daughter-in-law Alf and Loraine Rhea; daughter and son-in-law Betty Ann and Kenny Connor; daughter and son-in-law Ruth and Randy Greenhaw; 12 grandchildren (and eight spouses); 5 step grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; multiple nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Al's life will be held at Fellowship Greenville Church (3161 Hwy 14, Greenville, SC 29615) on Saturday, August 19th at 11 a.m. with visitation prior, beginning at 10 a.m.
Family and friends who are unable to attend the service can view the livestream by clicking on the "WATCH LIVESTREAM" button on the main obituary page.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Cru account of his daughter, Ruth Rhea Greenhaw, who also works for the Cru mission agency he served with for over 50 years.