Frances A. (Sassy Jo) Rhea, age 79, of 24133 Valley Mountain Road, Millboro, Virginia, died Thursday July 25, 2013 at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke.

She was born June 13, 1934, in Bath County, Virginia, a daughter of the late Herbert Dennis and Melvina Riley Mines.

She was a member of Horeb Baptist Church, attended Rehobeth Community Church and was very active in the Millboro Volunteer Fire Department for many years, working Bingo and the Fireman's carnivals.

She was a cook at the former Ted's Place restaurant.

Sassy's door was always open and she always helped anyone in need.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death in February, 1973 by her husband; David Franklin Rhea; a son, James Franklin Rhea; five brothers: Dennis Mines, Edward Mines, Marvin Mines, Roy Dean Mines, and Sgt Major Carl D. Mines.

She is survived by four daughters: Hilda Darlene Hensley, of Jerusalem Chapel, Churchville, Loretta Frances Kroeger, of Delaware, Kathi Jo Walker and husband, James, of Frisco, Texas, Cynthia Marie Hodge, of Millboro; a son, David Michael Rhea, of Millboro; a brother, Paul Virgil Mines, of Max Meadows; nine grandchildren; a special great-grandchild, Brooklyn Diane Burns, and four other great-grandchildren and a number of nieces, nephews and cousins.

A funeral service was held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday from the chapel of Nicely Funeral Home in Clifton Forge with the Reverend Bill Gram officiating. Interment followed in Horeb Baptist Church Cemetery in Millboro. Active pallbearers were Samuel Burns, SR, Chris Burns, Cyrus Samuel Burns, III, Jeff Grimm, Brandon Lee, and David Russell.

The family received friends Friday at Nicely Funeral Home.

The family suggests that memorial tributes take the form of contributions in her memory to the Rehobeth Community Church, P.O. Box 187 Millboro, VA 24460.