Fred Burnett Rhodes, Jr. – Major, United States Army

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Mr. Fred B. Rhodes, age 87, a retired government leader and attorney, died of natural causes Wednesday, November 7, 2001, in Anderson.

A Washington, D.C., native, he graduated from Central High School in 1932, received his AB degree from Colgate University in 1936 and his LLB degree from the University of Maryland Law School in 1941.

During World War II Mr. Rhodes served in the U.S. Army in the Counter Intelligence Unit and on the Manhattan Project which created the atomic bomb. Following the war, he was the first Staff Director of the newly formed Joint Committee on Atomic Energy. His positions in Washington included Counsel to the Senate Committee on Armed Forces, General Counsel to the Veteran’s Administration, Minority Counsel to the Senate Committee on Appropriations and Staff Director of the Senate Republican Policy Committee. From 1955 to 1960 he had a private law practice.

In 1969 President Nixon appointed Mr. Rhodes Deputy Administrator of the Veterans Administration. In 1974 Mr. Rhodes was selected by President Ford to be Chairman of the Postal Rate Commission. In 1975 he retired from Federal Service to help Chuck Colson found the Prison Fellowship Ministries. He served as Prison Fellowship’s first Chairman and President and remained an active member of its Board of Directors until his death.

In 1980, following ordination to the ministry, Mr. Rhodes served as interim minister at Briggs Memorial Baptist Church in Washington and the Fort Foote Baptist Church in Fort Washington, Maryland. He served on the Executive Boards and as an officer of the Southern Baptist Convention and the Baptist World Alliance. He moved to Anderson in 1983 and joined First Presbyterian Church, where he was an active member of the choir.

He was a member of American and Federal Bar Associations, the Army-Navy Country Club, the National Lawyer’s Club and the Capitol Hill Club.

Mr. Rhodes was predeceased by two wives, Anne Brown Rhodes in 1954 and Winona Henderson Rhodes in 1999.

He is survived by nephew, Louis W. Jefferson, of Yountville, California; nieces, Janet Rhodes Jones of Alexandria, Virginia, and Judith Rhodes Lamon of Durham, North Carolina; as well as four great-nephews; and one great-niece.

The memorial service will be held today, November 11, 2001, at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, with Dr. Rick Baggett and Dr. B.E. Pettit officiating. The family will receive friends in the session room following the service.

The family suggests that memorials be made to Prison Fellowship Ministries, 1856 Old Reston Ave., Reston, Virginia 20190; or Winona Rhodes Memorial Fund for the care of Alzheimer’s patients, c/o First Presbyterian Church, 302 W. Whitner St., Anderson, Ssouth Carolina 29624.

RHODES, FRED BURNETTE JR
MAJ   US ARMY
KOREA

  • DATE OF BIRTH: 12/17/1913
  • DATE OF DEATH: 11/07/2001
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 6  SITE 9308-A
    ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

RHODES, ANN B

  • DATE OF BIRTH: 07/30/1914
  • DATE OF DEATH: 04/05/1955
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 6  SITE 9308-B
    ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
  • WIFE OF RHODES, FRED BURNETTE JR MAJ US ARMYa

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