Cynthia Johnelle Rhoden, 81, of Laurel, MS, passed away on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at Merit Health River Region Medical Center in Vicksburg, MS. Born on March 20, 1944, in Dallas, Texas, Cynthia dedicated much of her life to serving her community. She volunteered at South Central Regional Medical Center and the Christian Food Mission, and was an active member of the Gideons International and the Laurel Lions Club. For 40 + years, she was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church of Sharon.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John Hugh Rhoden; son, Jeffery Warren Rhoden; father, John Haskell Schull; dad, Wallace D. Elkins Sr.; mother, Drebon Louise Rhodes Elkins; brothers, Rickey Schull and Darrell Elkins; sisters, Linda Geis (John) and Ruby Rockwell (Mike); brothers-in-law, Arney Rhoden and George "Bud" Wiley Rhoden; sister-in-law, Ann Saul.

Survivors include her son, John Wallace Rhoden;  brother, Wallace D. Elkins, Jr. (Theresa); sisters-in-law, Doris Schull, Mary Elkins, adopted grandchild, Madison Sumrall (Tracy);  nieces and nephews, Rickey and Teta Schull, J.D. and Jennifer Schull, Rex Schull, Dereke and Janet Elkins, Jenifer Elkins, Tonja Bitencourt, Stewart and Tammy Brewer, Robert and Pam Barnett, Cindy and Heath Shufelt, Karrie and Todd Ward, Denise Yeager, Heather Rockwell, Ryan and Paige Rockwell, Holly Rhoden, Tom Rhoden, and an abundance of cousins and other loved ones.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 2, 2026, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at First Baptist Church of Sharon in Laurel, Mississippi. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM at the same location, with burial to follow in Hickory Grove Cemetery in Laurel, Mississippi. Bro. Matt Olsen and Bro. Jonathan Strickler will officiate the services, with Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Laurel in charge of arrangements.

Pallbearers will include Robert Barnett, Stewart Brewer, Brodie Myrick, J.D. Schull, Rex Schull, Rickey Schull, Heath Shufelt, and Don Stewart. Honorary pallbearers will be Ricky Adams, Wallace D. Elkins Jr., Roland Gatlin, Bo Gieger, Ryan Rockwell, and Brett Walters.