Rebecca Rhyne

Rebecca Harrelson Rhyne, 97, passed away Friday, April 13, 2018. She was born on November 17, 1920, in Cherryville, NC one of nine children to the late Logan Clay and Maud Jenkins Harrelson. She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Henry Garrett Rhyne, on April 15, 2007.

Mrs. Rhyne is survived by her four children: Alice and Charles McRorie of Charlotte, NC; Marianna Davis of Gastonia, NC; Garrett and Shelby Rhyne of Stoneville, NC; and Patricia and Jere W. Rudisill of Gastonia, NC; her grandchildren Karin McRorie Flemming and her husband, Shawn Flemming of Fort Mill, SC; Craig A. Davis and his wife, Dr. Greta Davis of Tacoma, WA; Logan Rhyne of Menlo Park, CA; Jordan Rhyne of Columbus, OH; John Rudisill of Atlanta, GA; and William Rudisill of Boise, ID; and her great-grandhcildren Austin and Ashlyn Flemming of Fort Mill, SC.

In addition, she is survived by her sisters, Christine Autry of Charlotte, NC and Rilma Ferguson of Raleigh, NC and many nieces and nephews across the country. She was pre-deceased by her brothers Robert, James, Howard, George and Jenkins Harrelson, and her sister Cornelia Paysour.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, April 16 at Holy Communion Lutheran Church in Dallas, NC, with a visitation at 10:00 AM prior to the service and again after the funeral service and burial. The family will also receive friends at Covenant Village, 1351 Robinwood Rd. Gastonia, NC on Saturday, April 14, from 3:00 to 4:00 PM.

Mrs. Rhyne graduated from Cherryville High School and attended Woman's College in Greensboro, NC before moving to Dallas to care for her sister's children. It's there that she met Henry Rhyne, and they were married on June 28, 1941. They spent their life in Dallas, where Mrs. Rhyne became an active community leader and volunteer while helping Mr. Rhyne grow the family business, Rhyne Floral Supply. She was proud of her family's farm heritage in Cherryville and their early embrace of agricultural conservation efforts. She was a member of the Gaston County Soil and Water Conservation Commission for 20 years, and in 1990 became the first woman to serve as President of the NC Soil and Water Conservation Commission. She was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2005. She was instrumental in helping establish the Gaston County Museum of Art and History in 1976, and spent many years as a docent and board member, and served as board president in 1995. She served as Chairman of the Gaston County Parks and Recreation Board and was a member of the Dallas Woman's Club. At Holy Communion, she served as President of the WELCA and was a long-time member of the choir, served as a Sunday School teacher and member of the Church Council. She was an active volunteer during her childrens' school years at St. Michael's, Gaston Day School, and Sacred Heart High School. She was a gifted homemaker whose gardens and home reflected her love of color and design, and she leaves a beautiful collection of her needlepoint work for her family to treasure.

Mrs. Rhyne was loved and admired by her family and friends for her fearless independence and pragmatism, which was matched by her quiet generosity and compassion. Her greatest joy came from caring for and teaching others, especially children, and her determination to learn and share stayed with her until her last days.

Her family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the many wonderful caregivers at Covenant Village who assisted Mrs. Rhyne in recent months.

Memorials may be made to Holy Communion Lutheran Church, 301 W. Church St., Dallas NC 28034; Gaston Day School, 2001 Gaston Day School Rd. Gastonia NC 28056; or the Gaston County Museum of Art and History, 131 W. Main St. Dallas NC 28034.

Condolences may be made to www.carpentersfuneralhome.net