Ms. Shirley Ann Rhodes

Shirley Ann Rhodes, 83, of Piedmont, South Carolina, passed away on March 2, 2026, surrounded by her family.

Born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia, Shirley was the daughter of the late Leroy and Mabel Drumheller Shanks. Her faith was deeply rooted; her father helped design and lay the cinder blocks of Braddock Road Wesleyan Church in Annandale. She devoted more than 30 years to the Virginia State Police, beginning as a secretary and serving most of her career as a dispatcher. Dependable, capable, and steady under pressure, she brought those same qualities to her role as a foster mother, opening her heart to children in need.

Those who knew Shirley experienced her fierce loyalty and deep capacity for love. In her later years she found peace in the mountains and lakes of the South Carolina Upstate, where she enjoyed bluegrass music, the company of her dogs, and long drives through the hills.

She is survived by her daughters, Sandra Lynne Peirce (Robert) and Darlene Marie Avila (Steven); her sons, David Arthur Rhodes and Steven Edward Rhodes; her brother, Lee Shanks; and her best friend and cherished family member, Kathy Rhodes. She also leaves behind grandchildren Jeremy C. Peirce, Andrew B. Peirce, Lauren N. Avila (Michael Schmal), Landon C. Avila, Brendan M. Rhodes, Christian E. Rhodes, Nathan Rhodes, and Chloe Rhodes, and great-grandson Isaac. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Tina Boswell.