On January 25, 1921 in Decatur, Mississippi, Grandma was born to the late Caswell and Edna Townsend. Grandma was the eldest of five children. Her brother Thomas Townsend resides in St. Paul, MN; Sister McKevha Thomas resides in Brooklyn Center, MN.; Casloine Townsend-Norris resides in Minneapolis, MN.; and Ella Mapp resides in Decatur, MS. Grandma, under the guidance of her Baptist Minister father who was a farmer and her religious mother, grew up in the church and chose to walk with the Lord throughout her life.
Grandma completed High School then headed to Canada to become a teacher. However, she was waylaid first in Michigan then again in Minnesota where she would spend most of her life. In Minnesota, she met and married Stewart Rhodes Sr.. She had 9 children: Barbara Nash, Joannie Townsend, Sherman Townsend, Mary Collins, Stewart Rhodes Jr., Nancy Wilson, Paula Rhodes-Woods, Charlotte Scott and Paul Rhodes. At the time of her death, Grandma had 30 grandchildren, over 29 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.
During Grandma's 87 years her greatest pleasures included participating in Church events, reading her Bible, composing prayers, and singing Old Time Religion Songs. She also enjoyed fishing, playing board games, cooking (she was an excellent cook) and sewing. Grandma was a giver; she used her cooking, sewing, and teaching skills to help people learn how to survive on minimal resources. She would also let them know they should trust in God for their needs. In the later years of her life, Grandma enjoyed spending quality time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Grandma was affiliated with the Church of God in Christ. She served as a Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, Church Treasurer, Church Mother and District Missionary.