John Kevin Rhodes

 Memorial services for John Kevin Rhodes, age 60, will be Saturday September 30th at 2:00pm at First United Methodist Church in Lancaster, South Carolina.  The family will be receiving friends at 1:30pm.  Pastor Neal Woods will officiate.  A visitation will be held in Hartsville on Saturday night from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm at Norton Funeral Home in Hartsville.   The burial will be Sunday, October 1st, at 2:30pm in Magnolia Cemetery in Hartsville.

John passed away Wednesday, September 27, 2023.  He was born in Hartsville, South Carolina, the son of the late John Wiley Rhodes and the late Judy Nelms Rhodes.  John graduated from Hartsville High and the University of South Carolina with a degree in Music Education.  Band, music, and scouting were John’s favorite things.

John was one of two students selected from the University of South Carolina to play in the 1984 Olympic Band in California.  Upon graduation from college, he began his long teaching career in Fort Mill, South Carolina.  He took pride in the fact that his marching band was selected to play in the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Parade. He later transferred to Lancaster High School from where he later retired. He was honored with being the Teacher of the Year before his retirement.  The highlight of his musical career was teaching and watching his students grow in their love of music.  John also played in an orchestra and was part of the Shucker Brothers Band.  In later years he continued his love of music by playing in his and other churches.

John’s second love was scouting, achieving the level of Eagle Scout.  He continued throughout the years working with Scouts and the Camp Coker Pageants.

Left to cherish his memory are his brother Chad (Karen) Rhodes; sister-in-law Jennifer Rhodes and her two sons Noah and Chapin Rhodes, aunts Jane (Richard) Cheshire, Hartsville, Jodi (Reggie) Van Appelen of California, Vickie Bishop of Florida, uncle J.C. (Ann) Rhodes Hartsville.

He was preceded in death by his mother, his father, and his brother, Jeffrey Alan Rhodes.

Memorial may be made to First United Methodist Church 200 West Gay Street, PO Box 608, Lancaster SC 29721.

The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to the church family and dear friends who have supported and looked out for John over the last many years.

Norton Funeral Home and Crematory is honored to serve the Rhodes family.