Reverend Esic Rhodes, Jr. Reverend Esic Rhodes Jr., quietly departed this life on Monday, December 5, 2011, at Sacred Heart Hospital. Born, 14 March, 1937, to the late Rev. Esic Sr. & Lavern Rhodes, he was the second of six children. In 1956, he joined the United States Air Force and served for twenty eight (28) years until retiring in 1984. He was also employed with the Okaloosa County Unified School District from 1985 – 2000. Under the leadership of Rev., Clanston Seymore, of Greater Peace Baptist Church, he was ordained a Deacon in 1981 and became a licensed minister in 1984. He was ordained a Minister, on March 9, 1986, in Millington Tennessee. Rev. Rhodes was called to Pastor Pleasant Hill M.B.C, in 1986 and served as such, for twenty five years, the time of his home going. He was the Co-founder and President of Fellowship Churches of Santa Rosa County and served as Superintendent of Fellowship Churches Vacation Bible School. He was a member of the Santa Rosa NAACP Branch #5094, for approximately 20 years, where he served as 1st Vice-President 2007 – 2008, October 2010 – Present, 2nd Vice-President 2009 – 2010. He was also a member of the Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce, representing the Fellowship Churches of Santa Rosa County, 1991 – 2010. He leaves, in this life, his wife Gwendolyn, of the home, eight children, Corona (Nathaniel) Barrow, of Chester, Virginia, Kevin (Wanda) Rhodes, of Millington, Tn, Tara (Randal) Landers, of Ft. Myers, Fl., Reshay (Jaanai) Childress, of Alexandria, La., Julian (Ashanti) Rhodes of Raleigh, North Carolina, Carlos (Caroline) Rhodes, of Seattle, Washington, Evelia L. Millard, of Atlanta, Ga., Charla (Marcus) Schofield, of Jacksonville, Fl. Two daughters, Charlene Rhodes and Rhonda Rhodes, preceded him in death. He also leaves 21 grandchildren, 9 great-grand children, 3 sisters, Mary Clark, Geraldine Holiday & Lavern Ballesteros, 2 brothers, Rev. John (Elizabeth) Rhodes Sr., and Kenneth (Della) Rhodes Sr., and countless nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and loved ones. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Friday, December 9, 2011 at Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 5:30 -8:00 PM Thursday, December 8, 2011 at Lewis Funeral Home, Milton Chapel.