Rebecca Rhyne was born November 17, 1920 in Gaston County to Maude Jenkins Harrelson and Logan Clay Harrelson. She grew up with eight brothers and sisters on a 400 acre farm near Cherryville, North Carolina. Mrs. Rhyne married the late Henry Rhyne in 1941. They had four children, Alice, Marianna, Garrett, and Patricia. She is a grandmother of six grandchildren and great grandmother of one. Her family owned and operated the Rhyne Floral Supply Manufacturing Co. for many years. She spearheaded a number of early efforts at the local, state and national level to promote conservation and recycling.