AHOSKIE, NC – Tony Mitchell Rhea, age 78, passed away on December 10, 2018 at his home.

Mr. Rhea was born on October 18, 1940 to Allen Edward and Hazel Jernigan Rhea in Bertie County, NC. Tony graduated from Mars Hill High School. He was a member of Connaritsa Baptist Church, a maintenance supervisor for Hertford County Public Schools, and enjoyed traveling. Tony loved his family and friends, yard work, music, feeding animals, and his cat Missy. He spent countless hours in his shop woodworking, a well-known perfectionist when building birdhouses. Tony was a friend to many and loved by all and will be deeply missed.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Donna Madry;brother, Thomas Edward Rhea; and niece, Kelly Tibbitt.

Tony is survived by his loving wife, Jean; grandson, Joseph Allen Baines; granddaughter, Ashley Madry; sister, Peggy Castelloe and husband Harlon of Windsor; three sisters-in-law, Katy Rawls and husband Stanley, Sue Lassiter and husband Daniel, and Sandra Peele; two brothers-in-law, William J. Peele Sr. and wife Carolyn, and Joe Peele; six nephews, Kevin Castelloe and wife Katherine, Tommy Rhea, II, William J. Peele Jr. and wife Elizabeth, Joseph R. Peele, Chris Rawls, and Dana Lassiter; and two nieces, Tammy Rhea, Candy High and husband Vernon.; seven great-nieces and great nephews, Amanda, Asher, Alayna, Madison, Aslyn, Caden, and Gannon; along with several great-grandchildren..

A celebration of life memorial service will be held Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at 2:00 pm at the Chapel of Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service, Ahoskie, NC, with Rev. Charles Thompson officiating. The family will receive friends following the service and other times at the home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made directly to the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina, 204 Idol Street, Thomasville, NC 27360, or North Carolina Spinal Cord Injury Association, NCSCIA, 7980 Chapel Hill Road, Suite 101, Cary, NC 27513 or online by visiting tmcfunding.com/search; type: Tony Rhea.

Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service is handling the arrangements for the Rhea family and online condolences can be directed to the family by visiting www.garrettsykesfs.com.