Rhonda Ruth Wilcox (named for her maternal grandmother) was born in Hazlehurst, Georgia, the daughter of Ron and Euree Wilcox, and the oldest (and bossiest) of three sisters. She was always showing them the ropes, whether they were riding bikes, climbing forts or exploring sand dunes, and she was sure to give them lots of free advice. (But to her credit, she did not hold a grudge if they didn’t take it.) Always leading (rarely following), at the age of eight, she led her six-year-old sister to faith in Jesus Christ. From a young age, her Mama would read books to her and take her to the library. She loved read aloud time so much that her mother would record books for her on cassette tapes, so that she could still listen to books while her Mama was busy. (Audible had nothing on Euree Wilcox; she would tap a glass of water with a spoon to make a bell sound, so Rhonda would know when to turn the page.) In high school, Rhonda would walk down to Mrs. C.W. Collins’ house to see if she could borrow the books on the summer reading list, because Mrs. Collins had the largest library in her small town. Mrs. Collins would have been proud of the library that now exists in Rhonda’s house. Rhonda graduated with the Wayne County High School Class of 1985, and then earned a degree in piano performance and music education from Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, Florida, in 1990. Rhonda was beautiful, talented, brilliant, hard-working, and ambitious. She sang and played piano beautifully. She represented Wayne County in the Miss Georgia pageant, and then competed again as Miss Altamaha. She spent several years as an editor and publisher for Community Newspapers, Inc. in Toccoa and Cleveland before going to work for their corporate office in Athens, where she became interested in employment law. After earning her Juris Doctor from Mercer University School of Law and becoming member of the State Bar in 2002, she was an associate at Fisher & Philips in Atlanta before she became Vice President of Human Resources and General Counsel for Lazer Logistics in Alpharetta. Rhonda married the love of her life, Jim McCurtain, in 2010. Jim’s family became her family, and every year, after celebrating their anniversary at the Biltmore, they joined the rest of the McCurtains for family camp at Kanuga, where they were occasionally rebuked for violating quiet hours. Jim and Rhonda resided in Atlanta with a distinguished line of spoiled rescue dogs. Rhonda enjoyed attending live concerts with Jim, hosting her friends and family, playing her 1920’s Steinway, skeet shooting, hitting the highway in her convertible, and vacationing at the beach. Rhonda loved spending time with her people, showering them with gifts, and building their libraries. She was devoted to her family, and she indulged and supported all of her nieces and nephews in their fleeting interests, as well as their serious pursuits. Rhonda was a lover and a fighter (or at least an arguer). Her body was fighting a silent, unknown enemy for some time before it was discovered. Hemochromatosis did grave damage to her organs, and she lost the battle before she could get a transplant. Her family is grateful for a host of providers who fought with her to the end. Rhonda was allergic to pain and suffering, but she did not fear death, because she knew that this world was not her home. Her faith in the sacrificial death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ on her behalf gave her confidence that on the day she left this earth, she would be with Him in Paradise. Rhonda has joined her Daddy there, where her Mama says he was probably surprised to see her. She likely found him at the river teaching his grandson, Nathaniel Stone, how to bait a line.

Rhonda is survived by her devoted husband, Jim McCurtain, her mother, Euree Wilcox, sisters, Denise (Josh) Stone and Leanne Wilcox, nieces, Angel Hope Watts, Mary Grace (William) Grandy, and Rebekah Stone, nephew, Caleb Stone, father in-law, James McCurtain Jr., sisters in-law Avery (Karl) Zercoe and Liz(Taylor) McCurtain, brother in-law, Tom (Rachel) McCurtain, nieces Rebekah McCurtain, Emma and Zoe Horton, nephew, Lucas Zercoe, and special family friend, Teresa Robinson.

Rhonda was laid to rest at Philadelphia Baptist Church in Hazlehurst. A celebration of Rhonda’s life will be 3 PM Saturday, September 19, 2026 at Calvary Baptist Church, 415 East Cherry Street, Jesup, GA 31546, with Bro. Lynn Harris and Dr. Joshua Stone officiating.

Visitation will begin at 2:00 pm, prior to services at the church. In honor of Rhonda, the family requests that the ladies wear their best Sunday hats to her celebration of life. The family respectfully requests that no floral tributes be sent. Those who wish to honor her memory may donate to the Fistula Foundation or to the organization of your choice. Fistula Foundation: https://fistulafoundation.org.

Following the service, there will be a reception for family and friends at Trinity Baptist Church, 2061 Spring Grove Road, Jesup, GA 31545.

Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home of Jesup is in charge of arrangements.