Rhoda Johnson Nunnally

Rhoda Johnson Nunnally, age 96, of Thomasville, Georgia, formerly of Tuscaloosa, Alabama for seven decades, has laid aside her earthly garment and taken up new residency in the nearer presence of God.

She has fought the good fight, she has finished the race, she has kept the faith.
Now, there is laid up for her the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to her
and not to her only but also to all who have longed for His appearing.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Pastor Lawrence Gordon “Larry” Nunnally, Jr., and her siblings Evan Dan Johnson, Lillian J. Elrod, Mary J. Wurm, L. J. “Net” Johnson, and Kathryn J. Bailey. She is survived by her sister Erion J. Basinger; by her two sons, Pastor Lawrence Gordon “Larry” Nunnally, III, (Pastor Ann) and Dr. Thomas E. Nunnally (Kathryn), by four grandchildren, Cassia Nunnally Glass (McLeod), Dr. Samuel M. Nunnally (Beth), Pastor John M. Nunnally (Amy), and Pastor James T. Nunnally (Tiffany), by 12 great-grandchildren, and by a multitude of loving nephews and nieces and their families.

Rhoda was born in 1919 in West Alabama to Robert Erie Johnson and Mary Lou Parten Johnson. She moved to Tuscaloosa in 1943 and married Larry Nunnally, Jr., in 1946. She and her husband were members of Calvary Baptist Church, founding members of Ridgecrest Baptist Church, and then members at Hopewell Baptist Church. When her children were older, she returned to school to earn a degree in nursing and worked in the office of the late Dr. John Todd, M.D., for a decade. In 1974 she and Pastor Larry Nunnally, Jr., founded New Covenant Church, now a part of Daystar Family Church. After retiring from the pastorate, Larry and Rhoda founded Personal Christian Growth and taught many men and women on a personal level. She continued to teach women’s Bible studies for many years after her husband’s death in 1999. As a child she had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior and lovingly spent her life living for Him and endeavoring to let Him live through her. Some of her favorite experiences later in life were seeing her “great-grands,” skydiving at age 83, and publishing a book about her and Larry’s life experiences in 2011.

The family would like to thank her devoted friends in Tuscaloosa whose concern and love for her after her move to Georgia were a continual source of joy; her long-time Tuscaloosa pastors Dr. Ed and Ginny Rickles; the administration and staff of Southern Pines, and of Camellia Gardens of Thomasville for their inclusion of her as part of their family; the caring and attentive staff at Archbold Memorial Hospital in Thomasville; and Hospice of Southwest Georgia for their ministry and aid in the final chapter of her life.

On March 4, a funeral service celebrating her life and home-going will be held at 11:00 am in the Tuscaloosa Memorial Chapel (visitation from 10:00 am to 11:00 am), followed by interment in Tuscaloosa Memorial Park. Honorary Pallbearers include her grandsons and great grandsons. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made in her memory to Hospice of Southwest Georgia or the charity of one’s choice.