Following many years of a variety of health challenges, Vicki Chaffin Rhodes experienced a sudden but peaceful death at home on Friday, September 6, 2024. She squeezed as much joy from life as is possible for one with long-term chronic health problems, and contributed much joy to those around her. The suffering she experienced in her human body over the past 50 years is now complete and the eternal joy in her heavenly body has begun.
Vicki was born at Baptist Hospital in Nashville on May 13, 1954. The Chaffin family moved to Carthage when Vicki was 2 years old, then moved again to Lebanon when Vicki was 6. She grew up in Lebanon and graduated from Lebanon High School in 1972. She then went to UT Knoxville and graduated with a B.S. in Speech and Theater in 1977.
At UT, she met her future husband Tim Rhodes and they were married in 1976. They had a son Scott in 1977 (a return to the Baptist Hospital maternity ward), and a grandson Greyson in 2013 (another visit to the Baptist Hospital maternity ward). The Baptist Hospital trend was broken in 2008 with her first visit to Saint Thomas West Hospital for heart surgery and there have been numerous stays in Saint Thomas West Hospital since. Saint Thomas West Hospital and their fine medical staff (especially Dr. Mark Peters, pulmonologist) kept Vicki alive many times over the past 16 years.
Vicki used her talent and education in the entertainment and public relations industries. While in high school, she taught private drama lessons, sold and made radio commercials, was a charter employee of the original Cracker Barrel restaurant in Lebanon, was a charter employee at Opryland Amusement Park, and was a tour guide for WSM Tours. Her most unique job while in college was serving as the promotional model for Pocahontas Foods – she traveled to institutional food shows on the East Coast as Miss Pocahontas, dressed in costume as the darling Indian girl.
Upon completing her education and starting her family, she worked in guest relations at Opryland Hotel and started her own meeting planning business (Vicki Rhodes Leisure Activities Consultants) helping groups holding meetings and conventions at Opryland Hotel with their entertainment activities. One of her Opryland Hotel clients subsequently hired her for a VIP trip to the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville. She helped to start a chapter of Meeting Professionals International in Nashville. Unfortunately, health problems forced an early retirement from this promising career.
Vicki had a wonderful spirit and “lit up the room” when she entered. In one of her college courses, students were tasked with nicknaming each other with a name which matched their personality – unsurprisingly, she was Vivacious Vicki. She was a wonderful daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, niece, cousin, friend – a wonderful person.
Not only did she have a beautiful soul, but she was also a beautiful woman. She was in the Castle Heights Military Academy Court of Loveliness. And she was Miss Defeated Creek (a one-time beauty pageant held when the Cordell Hull Lake was opened). And she was 2nd Runner-up in Miss Wilson County.
Vicki was raised in a Christian family and then raised her own. In Lebanon, she was a member of Highland Heights Church of Christ. In Nashville, she was a member of Antioch Church of Christ, then Harpeth Hills Church of Christ, and now Brentwood Hills Church of Christ.
She was recently preceded in death by her father, Dalton Chaffin.
She is survived by her mother, Patty Chaffin; husband of forty-eight years, Tim Rhodes; son, Scott Rhodes; grandson, Greyson Rhodes; two aunts, and numerous cousins.
Visitation will be held in Nashville at Brentwood Hills Church of Christ, 5120 Franklin Pike, Tuesday, September 10, 2024, from 12:00 – 2:00 pm, with the funeral service following at 2:00 pm. Walt Leaver will officiate. The service will be live streamed over the Brentwood Hills Church of Christ website: brentwoodshills.org/live. Visitation will also be held in Lebanon at Ligon and Bobo Funeral Home, 241 West Main Street, Wednesday from 12:00 – 2:00 pm with burial to follow at Wilson County Memorial Gardens.
LIGON & BOBO FUNERAL HOME, in charge of arrangements. (615) 444-2142 www.ligonbobo.com
For more obituaries visit https://wilsoncountysource.com/obituaries/
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