'He was just a riot': Don Rhodes remembered as passionate Augustan, skilled writer

When news about "Ramblin" Don Rhodes' death broke over the weekend, grieving comments and prayers for his family flew across social media.

Rhodes died on Friday, according to the obituary posted by Posey Funeral Directors. This brought an end to a life that had touched all corners of the Augusta area with his popular writing and community involvement.

As the longtime entertainment columnist for The Augusta Chronicle, Rhodes wove his words through the city’s arts and entertainment scene with a familiarity that resonated with readers. But it was Rhodes’ encounters with the titans of music and entertainment that spawned, by his own reckoning, thousands of stories. In a journalism career spanning nearly 60 years, he tried his best to tell them all.

Augusta-area athletics: Top Augusta-area high school sports performers for 2022-23 season

Nostalgic Win: Sno-Cap, North Augusta's iconic drive-in diner, gets historic preservation grant

Paving the Rhodes

Rhodes’ began his daily newspaper career as a teen at the Atlanta Journal, and stood just 3 feet away from The Beatles at a press conference before he witnessed the band’s performance at Atlanta Stadium in 1965. In 1967 he worked the police beat at the Savannah Evening Press, covering murders, fires, gamblers and moonshiners. But he also wrote features, and his interview with Grand Ole Opry comedienne Minnie Pearl blossomed into a lifelong friendship. When Rhodes served a year with the U.S. Army in Vietnam, Pearl sent an autographed photo and a year’s subscription of the Music City News to his post overseas.

"Other soldiers in my barracks had photos of sexy movie actress Raquel Welch in their metal lockers," Rhodes wrote in 2014. "Mine had an autographed photo of Minnie Pearl."

Evening Press city editor Wally Davis invited him to begin writing an entertainment column. It premiered Oct. 31, 1970, as “Rambling Rhodes,” but when a typesetter later accidentally omitted the “g,” the remaining “Ramblin” stuck. Since then, the iconic rambler has been featured in the Chronicle, Augusta Good News, Augusta Magazine and many more publications.

Remembering the Rhodes

Over the years, Rhodes connected with some more huge stars like Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash. But he also made a big impact on the local scene. Greater Augusta Arts Council Executive Director Brenda Durant described how he would write beautiful nominations for the Arts Awards, and normally his nominee would win.

"It honestly thrilled me because Don was such a character that, when he took the microphone to introduce his winner, you just didn't want him to stop," Durant said. "He was just a riot, but very caring about Augusta and just a great storyteller."

Augusta Amusements owner Mike Deas was emphatic that Don played a huge part in the exposure of their local events, like when they brought in country singer Collin Raye.

"I got in touch with Don and he did an article on Collin Raye and, of course, he had some history with Collin Raye and he would always include that in his article and how Collin Raye originally got his start at the Bell Auditorium," Deas said. "So many people read Don's articles that, once it hit the newspaper, you were gonna get exposure and your ticket sales would go up because it's Don and everybody waits on a weekly basis to read what Don's got to say."

Rhodes also authored several books, including recollections of his long friendship with soul legend James Brown, and a look at the more tender, human side of baseball legend Ty Cobb, a former Augusta resident. Here are his book titles:

• "Say It Loud!: My Memories of James Brown, Soul Brother No. 1"

• "Mysteries and Legends of Georgia: True Stories of the Unsolved and Unexplained"

• "North Augusta: The Western Gateway of South Carolina: Little Known Stories About a Little Known Town"

• "Georgia Icons: 50 Classic Views of the Peach State"

• "Legendary Locals of Augusta, Georgia"

• "Ty Cobb: Safe At Home"

• "Entertainment in Augusta and the CSRA"

• "Georgia Myths and Legends: The True Stories Behind History’s Mysteries"

As evidenced, he was deeply passionate about local history and research projects. Maxine Maloney of the Augusta Genealogical Society recalled one instance in 2018 where they were packing up things to move from their Broad Street location when he found the wedding record and photograph of a certain mystery woman. Rhodes persistently inquired about the woman until Maloney finally revealed that they didn't know who she was, but that some members had encountered the presence of a friendly lady around the building who would do something to grab someone's attention then disappear.

"Well, there was no doubt Don was then hooked and he was set to find the mystery lady’s identity," Maloney wrote via email. "Sure enough, Don arrived at our new location within the month and presented a well framed and matted old marriage document ready to hang. Included also was a notebook of all his documented research. To our surprise, he discovered that Ms. Kitty had lived and died a block from the 1109 Broad Street building. Our mystery lady was found."

Augusta Eats: Fast food or healthy food? At Southern Salad, they're the same thing

Juneteenth Celebrations: Here are some upcoming Augusta area festivities, including Juneteenth events

Celebrating Rhodes

Though Rhodes will not be able to physically attend the Augusta's Annual Arts Awards on Thursday, his spirit will be. Durant said, before he was set to present an award to a musician, Rhodes had planned to play a funny video of a preacher denouncing the evils of rock-n-roll. That video will still be played during Thursday's ceremony.

In addition to the many co-workers and friends he gained over the years, Rhodes is remembered by his brothers Larry (Teresa) Rhodes and Doug (Bobbi) Spence, his sisters Linda Humphreys and Jan Rhodes (Jerry) Jarriel, plus several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his life-partner Ervin Edward “Eddie” Smith Jr., mother Ella Rhodes; parents Ollen and Jean Swann Rhodes, sister Ann Rhodes Holland, and brother Mike Spence.

A memorial service will be held at the American Legion Post No. 71 in North Augusta on June 24 at 11 a.m. with visitation starting at 10 a.m. Internment will be in Bellevue Memorial Gardens in Grovetown.

According to his obituary, those who want to honor Rhodes' memorial can also do so by supporting any animal humane society or shelter, any music school, historical society or veterans’ organization.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: 'Ramblin' Don Rhodes loved by Augusta's entertainment community