Rhoda Belle Conley gave us 100 years. She was a strong-willed woman who loved her family fiercely. She was rarely without an opinion or a position, and she taught five generations of women to be the same: Independent and Strong.
On February 6, 1922, Rhoda was born to Rolla and Elsie (Gilley) Hinchcliff in New Burnside, Illinois. She loved the outdoors and, as a child, preferred to spend her days working in the fresh air rather than the traditional chores for a girl her age. This love for the outdoors persisted into adulthood as she was an avid fisherman and gardener gifted in the art of frying fish and pie-making. Rhoda loved her flowers and had an extraordinary ability to grow about anything. Her thumb was so green it has been said she could place a stick in the ground and grow a hydrangea.
Rhoda also loved and had a keen appreciation for music. She spent a great deal of time gathering friends, neighbors, and family members around the piano, enjoying and singing gospel songs.
Rhoda had the opportunity to experience life differently than most; she was a woman of all ages. She shared stories of working the strawberry fields, wearing potato sack dresses, riding in a horse-drawn wagon, and purchasing cloth to make her own dress at the age of 16. She could also utilize and manipulate a smartphone, text her family, and kept numerous photos of her children and grandchildren in her phone, which she cherished deeply until her passing.
Rhoda Belle Conley met our Lord and Savior on February 22, 2022. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifton Wesley Conley, her mother, Elsie Lavonna Lavender, and her brother George Hinchcliff. She is survived by her sister Virginia Madsen, her two daughters, Elaine (Louis) Pollard, Marsha (David) Johnson. Her four grandchildren: Sheila (Bob) Scillufo, Pamela Gilley (special friend Marty Will), Kari (Ryan) Schriber, and Renee (Tyler) Leuschke. Her great-grandchildren: Bethany (Adam) Augustine, Fallon Scillufo, Jack Schriber, Ava Schriber, Paige Schriber, Elyse Schriber, August Leuschke, Vivian Leuschke, Elaina Gilley, and Aliya Gilley, and her great-great-grandchildren Evelyn Augustine and Kinsley Augustine. And very special niece and nephew Sonia (Michael) Rhea and Tomias (Stephanie) Hinchcliff.
There will be a private burial at Blairsville Cemetery. Walker Funeral Home & Crematory of Hurst entrusted with arrangements.
Condolence(1)-
Tomias Hinchcliff says
February 24, 2022 at 6:49 pmAlthough I had not seen my Aunt Rhoda in years, we kept in touch. What always came across was that she was all about her family. She was so fiercely proud of her daughters and grandkids as well as her great grandchildren.
More than 50 years ago when I was a pre-teen, Aunt Rhoda looked out for me and treated me like a son at a crucial time in my development. I will never forget the love she showed me then and continued to for the remainder of her 100 years.
I’d like to acknowledge Rhoda’s granddaughter Sheila for the incredibly loving and selfless ways that she took care of her grandmother in her later years.
I will miss you, Aunt Rhoda.