Lillie Mae Calloway Rhodes, 86, of Franklin, went home to be with Jesus, on Sunday, April 30, 2023.

Mrs. Rhodes was born in Macon County, NC on May 23, 1936. She was the daughter of the late Ira Tillman and Hazel Speed Calloway. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Billy Rhodes; daughter, Vickie Lee Rhodes; two sisters, Lillian Davis and Ophelia Barnes; and a brother, Bob Calloway. Lillie was a member of the First Assembly of God in Franklin and helped with the Helping Hands ministry for many years. She loved doing crafts and specialized in making original handcrafted collectable Santas.

She is survived by two sons, Billy Richard Rhodes and wife Shelby Jean of Highlands, NC, and Ted Rhodes and wife Vickie of Franklin, NC; five grandchildren, Melissa Rhodes, Bill Richard Rhodes III, Mitchell Rhodes, Abigail Rhodes, and Casey Wahl; four great grandchildren, Blake Billingsley, Gracie Billingsley, Adaline Wahl, and Western Rhodes; and one sister, Lois Bolick of Franklin, NC. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 4pm on Friday, May 5 in the chapel of Macon Funeral Home. Rev. Mike Barres will officiate.

The family will receive friends from 3pm-4pm, prior to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Men's Teen Challenge of the Smokies, PO Box 2157, Franklin, NC 28734.

Condolences can be made at www.maconfuneralhome.com.

Macon Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.