‘Champion for this city’: Family, friends celebrate the life of former Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes 

North Myrtle Beach Mayor Marilyn Hatley remembers traveling around the country with former Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes a number of times to conferences and workshops.

She recalled a trip when they went to a mayor’s conference in Washington D.C. and came across a meeting that was closed to cities with less than 100,000 people. Rhodes didn’t like that, she said, and he decided they would go in there and let them know that their coastal cities are just as important as any other city. And they did just that.

Hatley spoke of Rhodes’ dedication and love for Myrtle Beach to hundreds of his family and friends during Rhodes’ memorial service at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center on Thursday. Rhodes died from COVID-19 complications in January at the age of 77.

Hatley said Rhodes never held anything back and always spoke his mind. He always advocated for the city’s needs, she added.

“John loved the City of Myrtle Beach and was always a champion for this city no matter where we would go,” Hatley said.

She also talked about how Rhodes loved his family and told them that he was proud of all of them. Hatley even officiated his wedding to his wife, Terri Springs. She said it was the best thing she had done for him.

“Rest in peace, my friend,” Hatley said before taking her seat. “You were a good and faithful servant.”

Rhodes served as mayor for 12 years over three consecutive terms before he was defeated by Mayor Brenda Bethune in a mayoral runoff election in 2017. He had first been elected to city council in 2005.

As mayor, Rhodes was proud of his many accomplishments, specifically citing in 2017 the opening of the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and SkyWheel, opening and development of The Market Common and the building of Savannah’s Playground – which is designed for children with special needs.

Under his leadership, the city expanded its recreation and athletic facilities, including construction of the Grand Park Athletic Complex and the sports center. He was the longtime executive director of Beach Ball Classic, a 40-year national tournament for high school basketball teams that is held each December at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, and was part of the tournament since its founding.

Rhodes worked as a lifeguard as a young adult, managed the Yachtsman hotel and Ocean Dunes Resort, and spent about 30 years as a restaurateur before turning to politics.

Brad Dean, the former Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce President & CEO, also spoke of Rhodes’ honesty, openness and his willingness to make hard decisions for the good of the city.

“I miss that unwavering commitment to community [and] to always do something for others,” Dean said of Rhodes.

Wayne Gray, who served on council with Rhodes, knew Rhodes since he was a young boy. He joked that he probably grabbed Rhodes’ knee under the table more than Springs had during their marriage because of his bluntness at council meetings.

“You were never sure what John was going to say or do next,” Gray said, noting that he always said exactly what he was thinking.

During his time at the microphone, he also shared his gratitude for Bethune and other council members for renaming the Myrtle Beach Sports Center to “John T. Rhodes Myrtle Beach Sports Center.” The new sign will be unveiled at the facility on Saturday at 10 a.m.

He also pointed to how far Rhodes had come from being a lifeguard, attending Coastal Carolina University, entering the hotel industry, operating several restaurants and eventually becoming mayor. Gray said Rhodes’ life experiences culminated in Rhodes serving on council.

“John’s life can only happen in Myrtle Beach,” he said. “You can go from lifeguard to mayor.”

This story was originally published April 1, 2021 at 3:01 PM.