Rhonda Michelle Harmon

HARMON, Rhonda Michelle, age 59, of Manakin Sabot, Virginia, passed away on January 19, 2022. She is survived by her husband, Jonathan Harmon; children, Timothy, Krista, Jeremy and Jana; mother, Doris Jean King; brother, Robert Moore King (Serge); first cousins, Rolonda Rene Burns (Nathaniel), Tonii Greene (Tricia) and Duane Greene (Annie); cousins, Meagan Golighty (Henry) and Victor Whitney (Kiara).

Rhonda was born and raised in Waco, Texas and attended Richfield High School, where she was drum major for the state-winning school band and soloist for the choir. She was a member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc, where she served as Regional President. Upon graduation from high school in 1981, she accepted an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Rhonda was a part of only the fifth class at West Point that allowed women. And it was at West Point that Rhonda accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. In 1985, Rhonda graduated and was commissioned into the United States Army as a Military Intelligence Officer, serving her first year in Seoul, Korea. After Korea, Rhonda was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, where she met her future husband, Jonathan, at a Bible study in 1988. Jon and Rhonda were married in Waco, Texas on April 29, 1989. In 1990, Rhonda left the military to attend Baylor Law School and, shortly after beginning law school, her husband was deployed to the Middle East for the Gulf War. Despite this challenge, Rhonda graduated law school in 1993, number one in her class. Upon graduation, she accepted a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Samuel Johnson of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Austin, Texas.

In 1995, Rhonda moved to Richmond, Virginia with her husband and accepted a position as an associate with Mezzullo & McCandlish. In 1998, as a very pregnant associate, Rhonda along with then-City Councilman Tim Kaine, won what was then the largest verdict in the history of Virginia, a $100M verdict against Nationwide Insurance Company for redlining. After the case settled, Rhonda left the practice of law to homeschool her children, work in children's ministry, support her husband and support those in need through hospitality. Rhonda loved people and often invited as many as 70 people to join her family for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Many of these individuals would have spent the holidays alone if not for Rhonda's generosity.

Rhonda was an accomplished singer and was invited to sing at numerous events, including the dedication of the new federal courthouse in Austin, events hosted by Governor Ann Richards and Governor George Bush and the inauguration of then-Governor Timothy Kaine. Rhonda's talents were many, but most will remember her for her love and devotion to God first and then her husband, children, family and friends. She always had a word of encouragement and her smile would light up a rainy day. Rhonda's life was the manifestation of God's love and she was committed to serving whether it was her clients, family, friends or complete strangers. She understood that love is best expressed through service and that is how she lived. In 2020, Rhonda was named the "Richmond Christmas Mother." Her legacy will live on through her family and the countless lives that she touched.

A gathering of family and friends will be held on Tuesday, January 25 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Bliley's – Central, 3801 Augusta Ave. A funeral ceremony will be held on Wednesday, January 26, 10 a.m. at Faith Landmarks Ministries, 8491 Chamberlayne Ave. A reception will follow at the Jefferson Hotel. Interment will be private.

The family respectfully requests that all attending the visitation, service or reception should wear a mask to protect the safety and health of family members who are elderly and/or immunocompromised.