Rhonda Cook Stapleton, 61, of Fayetteville, passed away March 16, 2014.
She was born in Gainesville, Ga., and moved to Forest Park, Ga. at a very young age living there until she married Jerry Stapleton in 1970. She graduated from Forest Park High School and Atlanta Medical College. She spent most of her professional career as an accountant, the last several years prior to her illness operating her own business, RCS Services. She enjoyed traveling, cooking and playing golf. Prior to her illness, she traveled to Europe (4 countries), San Francisco, Las Vegas, San Diego, Kansas City, Florida (on several occasions), Boston/New England coast, Charleston (several times), Niagara Falls, Kentucky, Lake Havasu-Arizona, Jamestown, Virginia, the Virgin Islands and many other places. Her goal was to see something or someplace new each year. She particularly enjoyed Hilton Head Island traveling there often since 1980, buying a timeshare in 2000 continuing the annual trek each November. Rhonda loved people and touched the lives of many, evident by her six week stay in hospice care when several of the professional caregivers became emotional removing her belongings. She loved her church, church family, her husband, her boys and most of all her grandchildren. She will be dearly missed.
She was preceded in death by her parents J. Wilford Cook and Doris Holcomb Cook. She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Jerry R. Stapleton of Fayetteville; sons Danny (Stacy) Stapleton of Powder Springs and Chris (Kelly) Stapleton of Fayetteville; grandchildren Donna Alexandra Smith, Autumn Rain Smith, Chase Daniel Smith and Preston Lee Stapleton; brother James W. Cook of Fayetteville; aunts, uncles, cousins, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 3 p.m. at the Brooks United Methodist Church. Rev. Sheila Crowe and Rev. Leslie Langford will officiate. The burial will follow at Brooks Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Mowell Funeral Home in Fayetteville.
Those desiring may make donations to Brooks United Methodist Church, 119 Morgan Mill Road, Brooks, Ga. 30205.
Carl J. Mowell & Son Funeral Home, Fayetteville – www.mowellfuneralhome.com.
