McMullen Funeral Home

Rhodes and Sarah Catherine Rhodes passed away May 28, 2017, in Collegedale, TN.  She was born July 2, 1939 in Dayton, VA. She attended the public schools of Rockingham County before she attended Shenandoah Valley Academy her senior year of high school.She started her college education at Columbia Union College in Maryland but took a break in her schooling to be the mother to her four wonderful children Rhonda, Lynette, William (Billy) and DeAnn.  She then returned to school to finish her degree in medical technology.  After her children finished their education, Dorothy went back to school and earned her master's in public administration from James Madison University.Music was always important to Dorothy and she started playing piano by ear at a very early age.  She continued her love of music taking both piano and organ lessons and becoming the church organist at just about every church she attended.  She was a very integral part of the New Market church’s pipe organ build and maintenance.  She loved her church and playing the organ there.  She spent many late Friday evenings and early Sabbath mornings preparing to play for the week’s church service.  After she retired, she began teaching piano lessons at Shenandoah Valley Adventist Elementary.  She loved teaching her students to love music and to play with their heart.  She especially loved having the privilege to teach some of her grandchildren to play piano. Her beautiful life will forever be cherished by her children: Rhonda (Jonathan) Malloch of Apison, Lynette (Darryl) Armstrong of McDowell, Va., Bill (Cindy) Champion of New Market, Va., DeAnn (Raymond) Bell of Ooltewah; 12 grandchildren, Jessica and Sarah Malloch, Joshua, Nicole, Billie, and Paul Armstrong, Christina and Mandy Champion, Payton, Jessie, Jack and Will Bell; siblings Delores (Larry) Mountz of Ooltewah, Betty (George) Grames of Redlands, Ca., Brenda (Jim) Fluharty of Dayton, Va., Blake Rhodes of Dayton, Va., and a host of devoted nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Dee and Catherine Rhodes.Family ...

When she finally had to quit acting it was tough for her. She just loved it so much,” she said. Betty Britto of Columbus, 93, died May 20. She played a key role in local theater for many years and was among those responsible for the restoration of the Springer Opera House.A New York native, she was a former board member at the Springer and served as director of the Springer Opera House School of Theatre Arts, which is now known as the Springer Academy.“She felt it was important for children to have a place to study acting,” her daughter said.In a 1982 article for Columbus Magazine, the longtime theater supporter wrote about the academy. “Columbus has a unique opportunity of becoming a city where acting talent is discovered, developed and by respectful use, confirmed,” she wrote.Further in the article, she stated, “The discipline learned in theatre serves all areas of endeavor, and it is learned, not in drudgery, but in an atmosphere of joy, excitement and commitment.”She retired from the director’s post at the academy in 1989 and was presented a resolution of appreciation by the Springer board.Her daughter said Britto’s love of theater was boundless and that “performing was her passion.”She was seen in countless leading roles at the Springer and the Fort Benning Theatre. She also performed at colleges and on stages in New York and Atlanta.Her daughter said Britto also enjoyed metal jewelry work, writing plays and playing golf.Preceding her in death was her husband, Lt. Col. George Britto.A graveside service will be 1 p.m.May 26 at the Fort Benning Main Post Cemetery. Visitation will be May 25 from 5 p.m to 7 p.m. at McMullen Funeral Home on Gentian Boulevard in Columbus.

The finalists are:? Tesharra Alexander, a sixth-grade English language arts teacher at Blackmon Road Middle School? Tabitha Ginther, an English language arts teacher for grades 10-11 at Northside High School.? Shane Larkin, a social studies teacher for grades 9-12 at Early College Academy.First stopThe convoy first stopped at Early College, where Larkin has taught since 2014 after a 2008-14 stint at Arnold Middle School. This is Larkin’s ninth year teaching. He retired from 10 years of service in the U.S. Army as a staff sergeant. He has two bachelor’s degrees, a master’s degree and a specialist’s degree from Columbus State University.MCSD Superintendent David Lewis congratulated the finalists via the video chat app FaceTime because he was out of town Friday to watch his daughter play with Jacksonville State University in a softball tournament.“It’s an amazing honor,” Larkin told Lewis. “I thank my students for allowing me to have this honor.”The teachers received a cake from the foundation and cheers from their students.Referring to the foundation members, Larkin told his students, “You talk about community involvement in education, this is what changes education on the community level, on the national level, when all of these people get involved in your education.”Next stopThe convoy’s next stop was at Northside, where Ginther has taught since 2011 after a 2005-11 stint at St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School. She has been a teacher for 12 years. She earned her bachelor’s, master’s and specialist’s degrees from CSU and her doctorate from Mercer University.Selection committee member Marquette McKnight, the foundation’s administrator and president of Media, Marketing & More, told Ginther’s students, “We are excited about recognizing and rewarding outstanding teachers and the great things that they do with students like y’all.”Ginther gestured toward her students and said, “These guys are the real celebrities. They’re the ones who come in every day and do most of the work.”In an interview with the Ledger-Enquirer, she added, “I’m very humbled. I’m so glad to repr...