Transcribed by Larry Rhodes, grandson of the subjects, from digital photographs taken by Steven Hunt, Sr. of Greer, South Carolina, great-grandson of the subjects and possessor of the Bible.

Inscribed on the fly leaf: “Dec 23th 1905 Mrs Etta Rhoads Book presented to her by Mr B. J. Rhoads in sure remember of love”

The deep feelings of Grandpa resonate within the pages of this Bible. At the bottom of the page on which most of the births are recorded, he wrote “Oh God Etta Rhoads departed this world June 5, 1913.” Tucked between the pages of the Bible is a piece of paper that appears to be from a lined tablet, on which he wrote:

Wife of B. J. Rhoads Etta was 36 years 3 monthes old was sprinkled when a child and belong to the Methies Church Purfest Religion 13 years a go and was Babtised to years a go Has been a Christon worker for the last 13 years. departed from this world in Faith June 13 1913

Etta is buried in the Mount Zion Baptist Church Cemetery. In 1877 her grandfather, John Frady, gave the land for the church and cemetery to the Methodist Church; and her father, Noah, was one of the original Trustees. The congregation became Baptist sometime in the mid-twentieth century.

*The headstone inscription of B. J. RHODES in the Hooper’s Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Henderson County, North Carolina gives his date of birth as 20 January 1880. The Federal Census (North Carolina, Henderson County, Edneyville Township, page 3 (Image 235a), enumerated 2 June 1880) shows dwelling 199, family 205 containing “Rhodes, Albert, male aged 23; wife Cynthia, female aged 19; daughter Naomi, female aged 2; and son Burton Benjonas, male aged 6/12 and born in Jan[uary].” He generally went by the nickname “Bud.” He was “B. J. RHODES” on the hand bill for a Saluda, North Carolina tent meeting, that began 8 August 1926, at which he was music director. On the 1910 Federal Census (North Carolina, Buncombe County, Black Mountain Township, Sheet 14a, enumerated 30 April 1910) he was “Rhoades, Benjaman J.” His draft registration for World War I, dated 12 September 1918, shows him as “Burton Jonie Rhodes.” It was “Rhodes, B. J.” on the 1920 Federal Census (South Carolina, Greenville County, Glassy Mountain Township, Roll 1697 Book 2, Page 293b, enumerated 7 January 1920.) On the 1930 Federal Census (North Carolina, Henderson County, Green River Township, Sheet 7b, enumerated 18 April 1930) he was “Rhoads, Burton.” His widow, Bertha Barton Rhodes, gave the name “Burton Jonie Rhodes” for his death certificate, 27 March 1942. One would think that the “Benjonas” of the 1880 federal census might be an enumerator error, except that the Delayed Certificate of Birth Registration for Max R. Rhodes, dated 23 May 1969 lists his father's name as “Burton Benjona Rhodes;” therefore someone involved with that transaction — Max, his Aunt Elsie Frady, who was present at the birth, or his sister Pauline Rhodes Butler, who was eight years old at the time, knew of Grandpa Rhodes‘ birth middle name.