Donald Herbert Hodges

Mr. Herbert Hodges, age 72, of Oconee died on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at his home. Graveside funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Friday, January 15 at Antioch Christian Church Cemetery in Oconee. Reverend Tom Howard and Mr. Mike Sheppard will officiate. Pallbearers will be Gene Sheppard, Clay Brantley, Thomas Harris, Andy Jones, Joel Cochran, and William Sheppard.

Mr. Hodges was a native of Washington County, the son of the late Donald H. Hodges, Sr., and the late Rebecca Smith Hodges.  He graduated from Washington County High School and from South Georgia Technical School, where he received a diploma in diesel mechanics.  He served in the U.S. Navy as a Seabee from 1969 to 1971.  One of his favorite stories was about surviving Hurricane Camille, which destroyed the home of the Atlantic Fleet Seabee Center in Gulfport, MS in 1969.

After returning home to Washington County, he began working at Thiele Kaolin Company, where he retired as the Mine Superintendent of the Avant Mine after a 31-year career. He also co-owned Hodges General Store in Oconee. After retiring from Thiele, he opened Herbert Hodges Shop, LLC where he provided diesel mechanic and welding and fabrication services. He was an active member of Antioch Christian Church where he served as a deacon and on the church board. For many years, he and his wife loved to entertain at their home and treat friends and family to his special hot chicken.  He especially loved hosting the extended Hodges family for their annual Thanksgiving Day reunion.  He and his wife hosted this for over twenty years where they enjoyed seeing over one hundred family members. Later, he enjoyed spending time with family at his vacation home in St. Simons Island, where he has a sandwich named after him at his favorite restaurant, the Sandcastle Café and Grille. Mr. Hodges was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Martina Jones Hodges.

Survivors include: his children, Chris Hodges and his wife Alecia of Oconee, Grace Hodges Moore and her husband Roger of Greensboro; grandchildren, Hannah and Cole Hodges of Oconee, Wilson, Lawson, and Elizabeth Moore of Greensboro; sisters, Donna Pope of Atlanta and Sherri Harris of Deepstep; and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the special care givers who treated Mr. Hodges like their own family and continued to make his house feel like a home.

Donations may be made to Antioch Christian Church, P.O. Box 40, Oconee, Georgia 31067.

May and Smith Funeral Directors in Sandersville is in charge of the arrangements.

www.mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com