Alyssa "Poody" Tuggle

Alyssa “Poody” Tuggle, age 26, of Spindale, passed away Sunday, August 23, 2026 at her residence.

Alyssa was born Wednesday, December 1, 1999 in Williamsburg, Virginia to Carol Ann Stevenson Rhodes who resides in Spindale. In spite of her learning disabilities and autism, she became a bright beam of light to all who knew her. She was affectionately known as “Poody” to all who knew and loved her. Alyssa was a beautiful young lady with the purest and the sincerest of hearts. She had friends all around town from the Little Debbie delivery man and Lays Potato Chip Vendor to local law enforcement, emergency medical technicians and fire fighters. Alyssa enjoyed listening to Pop Music, especially Bruno Mars. Her favorite Bruno Mars song was, “Marry You”. She also loved dancing especially to Arby’s commercials, going to Chick-Fil-A for a daily cup of free ice water, car rides, looking at the moon, collecting headphones, bubbles, her favorite stuffed animal, “George”, watching Blue’s Clues and Nick Jr. cartoons, her Butterfly and Santa Claus sheets and her beloved pet dogs. Above all she loved to be loved. One of her outstanding talents was to be able to say “hello” in eight different languages. She will be missed dearly by all who loved and knew her.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, David B. Stevenson and Kristi A. Stevenson; maternal great grandmother, Dorothy Menz Rolsten Beasley and paternal great grandmother, Grace Tuggle.

Those left to cherish her memory include her loving mother whose world orbited around Poody, Carol Ann Stevenson Rhodes and Carol’s life partner, Aaron “Yeti” Wright; father, Samson L. Rhodes; grandmother, Judith Bryan of Petoskey, Michigan; best friends and caregivers, Cory and Taylor Childers and their children, Mac and Indigo Childers; her best friends who were like sisters, Alexis McKown and Amiyah Wright and her beloved teachers, Wendy Ankrom and Rhonda Enloe.

The family will hold a private celebration of Alyssa’s life.