Arline Cavenaugh Rhodes, 88, passed away on Thursday, November 13, 2025 in SECU Hospice House, Newport, NC .

Arline Cavenaugh Rhodes, born on December 19, 1936 in Chinquapin, NC, was the daughter of Frank and Bessie McKoy Cavenaugh. Arline was in the Beta Club academic honor society at Chinquapin High School, where she played basketball, cheered, and graduated in 1955. There she met the love of her life, Troy Payton Rhodes.

Troy and Arline married on November 12, 1955 and together they raised three sons. Throughout Troy's 30 years of service in the United States Coast Guard, where he retired as Chief Warrant Officer 4, they were stationed in Wilmington, NC; Elizabeth City, NC; New London, CT; Newark, NJ; Mullica Hill, NJ; Albany, NY; Norfolk, VA; Cape May, NJ; and Fort Macon, NC. Arline worked at Cavenaugh's Five and Dime in Wallace, NC, a newspaper and a pharmacy in Wilmington, NC, drove a school bus in Cape May, NJ, and Waterford, NY, and clerked for Duplin County Tax Administration in Kenansville, NC.

Upon Troy's retirement in 1985, he and Arline returned to the same land Arline grew up on in Chinquapin, NC where they farmed, traveled and hosted. Arline loved the Lord and was a devoted member of Sharon Baptist Church, where she participated in the Golden Agers seniors group. She had an affinity for maps, and visited all 50 of the United States, as well as the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada,
Jamaica and Mexico. Arline enjoyed musical stage shows, game shows and movies, and often hosted friends and family for games of Scrabble, SkipBo, RummiKub and Five Crowns. Grandma Arline is well known among her family as the ultimate hostess. She lived for her family's visits, made everyone feel at home, and cooked elaborate meals, prepared with what she called her most important ingredient: "L-O-V-E."

Arline lived 88 years and spent her final years under the loving care of Bryan and Millie Rhodes. She peacefully went to be with the Lord on Thursday, November 13, 2025 at SECU Crystal Coast Hospice House of Newport, NC. Arline is survived by one sister: Ernestine Manning of Manassas, VA, one brother in law: Joseph Rhodes (Jo Ann) of Kinston, NC, as well as her 3 children, 9 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

Children:
Gregory Payton Rhodes, Troutman, NC
Bryan Clark Rhodes (Millie), Newport, NC
Andrew Stuart Rhodes (Stephanie), Terrell, NC

Grandchildren:
John DeLaPava Rhodes, Amanda Leigh Ann Ralph (Douglas), Lisa Maria Rhodes, Kaitlin Arline McMahon
(Patrick), Emily Kristen Schaefer (Michael), Saylor Mackenzie Shinn (Hunter), Mary Lynn Payton Henning
(Sidney), Garrett McKoy Rhodes, Brody Jaxon Rhodes

Great-Grandchildren:
Taylor Elizabeth Ann Ralph (16), Noah DeLaPava Rhodes (14), Courtlynn Millie Ralph (13), Juliana Joanne
Ralph (13), Kyndall Maryann Ralph (13), August Sobotka Rhodes (11), Hatteras Paige Schaefer (11),
Magnolia Joyce Schaefer (7), Alden James Rhodes (5), Landry Bryan Rhodes (5), Copeland Norah Eloise
McMahon (4), Penelope Kollins Schaefer (4), Navie Faith Shinn (3), Callan Timothy McMahon (2), Payton
Miles Henning (10 months)

A visitation will be held on Monday, November 17, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, followed by the
funeral service at 1:00 PM at Community Funeral Home in Beulaville, NC. Interment will follow at East
Duplin Memorial Gardens, where Arline will be laid to rest beside her beloved Troy, who passed away in
201.

Flowers and charitable donations are welcomed. Charitable donations may be made to either:
Sharon Baptist Church at https://www.sharonbaptistnc.com/give
SECU Crystal Coast Hospice House at https://crystalcoasthospicehouse.org/donate-now/
Flowers may be sent to Community Funeral Home, 840 W Main St, Beulaville, NC 28518.

Community Funeral Home of Beulaville is honored to serve the Rhodes family.