Elizabeth Lee Hodgman

Elizabeth Lee Hodgman, 84, of Avondale Estates, Georgia passed away peacefully in her home where she resided with her eldest son, John W. Gaul, during the early morning hours of Tuesday, January 12th, 2021. Born September 17th, 1936 in Miami, Florida. Elizabeth was the youngest of two daughters (her elder sister was the late Joyce Holly of St. Marks, FL), whose parents were the late Charles W. Woolard and Edith Mae Woolard. As a devoted and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she is survived by four sons: John W. Gaul of Avondale Estates, GA; Charles E. Gaul of Sarasota, FL; Gary L. Gaul of Old Fort, NC; and Michael A. Rudinski of Flowery Branch, GA as well as four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Elizabeth’s deep abiding faith provided her peace, comfort and joy throughout her life and she often expressed her anticipation of a reunion with loved ones that has passed on before her. Her hobbies included raising orchids, she was a devoted life-long dog-lover/pet-owner; she loved playing “Rummicube” with friends and family and above all things dancing (she once owned, operated and taught ballroom dancing at Arthur Murray Dance Studio in South Florida) and she also performed exhibition ballroom dancing wowing audiences at the renowned Fountainbleau Hotel in Miami Beach.

Elizabeth is remembered for her past professional careers as both a newspaper publisher and editor for several North Florida community newspapers as well as a Environmental Services Director in the hospitality industry. She was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary local chapters of the Avondale Estates Branch of the American Legion and the B.P.O.E. (Elks Lodge #78) and her wishes were that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her memory be made to these two organizations.

See photos on the following pages denoting images of the notable life notes which include winning Miami Beach’s very first “Baby Photo Contest” in 1939 at 3 years old as “Prettiest Girl in the Show”; she was selected as one of the “10 Prettiest Girls” in her High School Homecoming Festivities; she enjoyed a successful modeling career in the early 1950’s; was crowned “Miss Opa Locka” as a contestant in the Miss Florida pageant in 1954; she was cast as an “extra” in the Frank Sinatra movie “A Hole in the Head” in the 1950’s; she served as President of the PTA and was a loving, devoted parent to 9 boys (4 natural and 5 step/adopted sons).

Services for Elizabeth are to be held for immediate family, relatives and close friends at 1:00 PM on Saturday, January 16th, 2021 at the Wages & Sons Funeral Home Crematory Chapel at 1040 Main Street, Stone Mountain, GA 30086/Phone: 770-469-9811. A reception serving light refreshments will follow at Elks Lodge #78 located at 1775 Montreal Rd. in Tucker, GA 30084, Phone: 770-908-0835. For additional information/inquiries/condolences, please contact Elizabeth’s sons John Gaul at 404-441-1273 or .