Remembering Attorney Alfred Henry Rhodes Jr.
JANS – Jackson attorney Alfred Henry Rhodes Jr. succumbed September 12, 2026, after a lengthy illness. He was 85. Funeral services were held Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at Jackson Memorial Funeral Home, Jackson, MS. More than 50 members of the Magnolia Bar Association were present to celebrate his life of dedicated service. The Honorable Carlton W. Reeves, United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, delivered the eulogy.
Rhodes was born on March 16, 1941, in Midnight, Mississippi, to the late Alfred Henry Rhodes Sr. and the late Willie Mae Rhodes (Hall). At an early age, Rhodes and his family moved to Jackson, Mississippi, where he was educated, developed his strong sense of purpose, and began a life dedicated to service, justice, family, and community.
Rhodes, a lifelong learner who valued education and understood its power to transform lives, received his early education at Westside Elementary School and Sumner Hill Junior and High School. He continued his studies at Utica Junior College and Tougaloo College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He later attended Jackson State University, earning a master’s degree.
In 1974, Rhodes achieved another significant milestone when he received his Juris Doctor degree from Mississippi College School of Law. His education prepared him for a distinguished legal career and provided him with the tools to advocate for others and serve his community.
Rhodes’ commitment to service extended far beyond his professional career. He was a lifelong and devoted member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, proudly affiliated with the Beta Alpha Chapter, known as the “Mother of Pearl of Mississippi,” the first Omega Psi Phi chapter established in the state.
Throughout his years of service to the fraternity, he held numerous leadership positions, including serving as the State Representative of Omega Psi Phi from 1991 to 1995. He served on numerous committees and received many honors and awards in recognition of his dedication and service.
His commitment to his community and to the pursuit of justice was evident from an early age. Rhodes was active in the Civil Rights Movement, participating in and leading protests in support of equal rights. Rhodes’ involvement was significant enough to be documented in the Mississippi Sovereignty Commission report.
In 1967, he demonstrated his commitment to public service by seeking to represent Hinds County in the Mississippi House of Representatives.
His dedication to the legal profession and to the advancement of African American attorneys was also evident through his involvement with the Magnolia Bar Association. He served the organization in several capacities, including president, treasurer, and administrative assistant. His contributions were so meaningful that the organization established the Alfred H. Rhodes, Jr. Service Award in his honor.
In 2015, Rhodes was inducted into the Tougaloo College Hall of Fame, recognizing his accomplishments and his lasting contributions. He was also a lifetime member of the Tougaloo College Alumni Association.
Rhodes dedicated more than four decades to the practice of law. His legal career was marked by a commitment to serving others and upholding justice. He also served as a Youth Court Magistrate in Port Gibson, Mississippi, where he had the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of young people and families.
After more than 40 years in the legal profession and decades of service to his organizations and community, he retired in 2022.
Those who knew Rhodes knew that he possessed a strong and unmistakable personality. He was caring, giving, generous, friendly, organized, and, above all, a genuinely good person. He was a presence. You knew when Rhodes was in the room.
He had a way of making himself known – not simply because of his strong personality, but because of the warmth, wisdom, humor, and character he brought with him. He touched lives through his work, his service, his friendships, and most importantly, through his love for his family.
His legacy is not measured solely by the degrees he earned, the cases he handled, the organizations he served, or the honors he received. His greatest legacy is found in the people he loved, the people he helped, the causes for which he stood, and the example he left behind.
Rhodes was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred H. Rhodes Sr. and Willie Mae Rhodes (Hall); his son, William Wyatt Rhodes; and his brother, Jimmy Lee Rhodes.
He leaves to cherish his precious memories: his devoted wife of 63 years, Lottie Rhodes; his daughters, Romula Rhodes and Tevaria Rhodes; his brother, Roland Leon Rhodes; his only grandchild, Justin Alfred Rhodes; his niece, Rolundria O’Shea Rhodes; great-niece, China Rose Rhodes, and a host of cousins, extended family members, fraternity brothers, colleagues, and friends.
