Rhoda Denaburg Link, Matriarch of Levy’s Fine Jewelry, Dies at 86

She was an icon, both in the way she led and as the voice of “Miss Rhoda” in the store’s radio commercials.

Brecken Branstrator brecken.branstrator@nationaljeweler.com

Rhoda Denaburg Link, who helped grow Alabama retailer Levy’s Fine Jewelry into the well-known store it is today, died Aug. 19 after a brief illness. (Image from Levy’s Facebook page)

Birmingham, Alabama—Rhoda Denaburg Link, owner and matriarch of well-known Alabama retailer Levy’s Fine Jewelry, died Aug. 19 after a brief illness. She was 86.

It was her vision, along with her brother Charles, that took what started as a small pawn shop and grew it into one of the top jewelry stores in the U.S. today, Levy’s said in an Instagram post about her death.

According to Levy’s website, Joe Denaburg started the shop in 1919, acquiring one of the first pawn licenses in the state of Alabama.

He died in 1972, but his wife, Ethel, and son, Charles, continued to manage the store.

Rhoda, Joe and Ethel’s daughter, moved from Chicago to Birmingham in the 1980s to be more active with the store.

She married Marvin Link, a prominent jeweler from New York; he helped train staff and transition the business to a more jewelry-focused model.

Rhoda, or Rho Rho as she was known to her kids and grandkids, may have won many awards for her leadership, but she was known for staying humble amid the success, and emphasized the importance of hard work, education, and accountability.

“Most of all, she taught us the importance of family, and that it isn’t always blood that makes someone family,” Levy’s said.

She was a local icon, gaining fame as the voice of “Miss Rhoda” in the “Ask Rhoda” radio commercials.

She was also a lover of art and adventure, traveling the world with her husband so often they made it to all seven continents.

“She never hesitated to encourage us to embrace our passions and chase after our dreams, no matter how crazy they may appear to others,” the Instagram post said.

Denaburg Link is survived by her brother, Charles (Jan) Denaburg; children Nan Nadler, Keith and Natalie Nadler, Jimmy and Alisa Nadler, Tracy Diamond, Jared and Celia Nadler, and April and Brian Harrison; and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin Link; grandson, Brett Nadler; and sister, Iris Denaburg Rosemore.

Graveside services were held Monday, Aug. 22, at Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham, followed by shiva and visitation at her home in Mountain Brook.

The family is also receiving visitors today, Aug. 23, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.

Donations can be made in her name to the Stanley and Maxine Lapidus Special Projects Fund at Temple Beth El in Birmingham or to Jewelers for Children.

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Brecken Branstratoris the senior editor, gemstones at National Jeweler, covering sourcing, pricing and other developments in the colored stone sector.

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