William "Bill" Hodges

Marie,
We have the fondest memories of our introduction to Southern Football from Bill and his undying devotion to Tech! What fun we had with our bevy of little children – there.must have been 20 on Rockbridge Heights all the same age!
Hugs to you, Heidi and Mike from all the Kemps.

Marie, Michael, Stephanie, Heidi, and grandkids-our hearts and prayers are with you right now. It has been a tough couple of months for our family. Our matriarch and now our patriarch are gone but our memories will remain forever. I have such fond memories of Dick( I know everybody in Lawrenceville knew him as Bill but he was Dick to us). I remember riding with him on his bike coming back from the movies in Davisboro and getting my big toe stuck in his spoke and flipping us. I remember me and Mom taking him on the other side of Tennille and putting him out to hitchhike back to Middle Ga. College. I remember Mom and Mama going to Ft. Smith Arkansas and picking up his Studebaker when he shipped out to serve his country in all places, Hawaii. I remember the night he got back to Davisboro when he was discharged and surprising Mama. I saw him first as he peeped around the door and gave me the quiet sign as he sneaked up on Mama and gave her a kiss. I remember his and Marie’s wedding. I remember him and Marie visiting me at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. when I was at basic training. I remember spending the night in the St. Louis airport and he and I walking up to the gate to meet my wife at the same time and him being upset that I didn’t call him in the wee hours when I got to the airport. So many memories. He was my hero. I wanted to be like him. He is the reason I went to Middle Ga. College and then on to Georgia Tech. I will miss him dearly. You will too but let the memories bring smiles to your faces as I am smiling now as I write this.. He is with his Mom and Dad and his brothers and sisters( Lanier, Sue, Florence, S.F., Flora, Virginia)-the whole family back together again. Most importantly, he is with his Heavenly Father. Love all of you. See you soon.

Nana, Heidi, Mike, Lindsey, Cody and Lacey,
I am so sorry about the loss of your papa. What a sweet and beautiful soul he was. You are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. I love you all!

Bless the family during this difficult time and loss.

Marie, Heidi, Mike, Stephanie and all his beloved grandchildren, my heart aches and feels a huge void at the passing of my very special and much loved uncle “Dick”. I can only imagine what you must be feeling. He was a man of few words, but great integrity with a heart of gold and a profound love of God and his family. He was my idol since I was a little girl … so in awe of him and thrilled to get a word, a smile, a hug from my beloved Dick. I will never forget the ride from Sandersville, after my annual summer visit with Mama, back to Roanoke, Va with him in that awesome T’bird convertible. Getting to spend hours with him in such a cool car … I was in heaven and terrified at the same time! Would he talk to me? He did and, as it was my 8th birthday, it was the best present ever!! I didn’t even mind that the convertible roof had a leak on my side and it rained for the entire 8 hour trip, lol. Lunch in a diner with my idol … what little girl could ask for more!! As I grew to adulthood, my love and admiration for him grew also. He loved his Yellow Jackets, so I did and do too!! I feel privileged to have been able to spend so much quality time with him all those years of weekends at the lake and vacations to PCB with our families making so very many unforgettable memories! My mom adored her little brother and he was always there for her in tough times as her health declined after my dad died. They had a special bond as the “babies” of the family, and I’m sure there was a joyous reunion in heaven as he was reunited with his mother, father and seven siblings, as well as other loved ones who preceded him through those Pearly Gates. Joy, laughter, teasing and I’m sure a few rounds of friendly, competitive canasta are on the agenda as they rejoice being all together again. I will miss him more than words can express, but am grateful he is whole again and able to see the bright, beautiful colors of heaven and have no pain or further suffering. I’m sure he didn’t want to leave his earthly family, but as a man of faith, knew they would be reunited according to God’s plan. This is not goodbye, but just a “see you later” until we all come together again in the Kingdom of Heaven. That will be the ultimate reunion! I love and miss you “Uncle William, Bill, Dick, WL, Dub”, and will cherish the many memories shared and the love you showed me through actions and words, from a man who was frugal with them. I’m so grateful for that visit and dinner shared with you and Marie the night before you entered the hospital and being able to tell you “I love you” and best of all, hearing it in return!! My prayers are with you Marie, as I know you loved him beyond words and will struggle to find peace and joy again, but all of us who adored you both will be there to help you through the tough times. “Uncle” Dick, thank you for a lifetime of love and memories …… love forever, your niece Deb.

Marie, Heidi, Michael & Stephanie & Grandchildren, I am so sorry that we are not going to be able to make the Visitation & the Funeral. You all are in our hearts at this difficult time. We love all of you so very much. I love how Dick treated his Mom. I was young at the time but I realized how much he cared for her. I remember him bringing her one of her favorites a lot of times when him & his family came to visit her when she was at Aunt Flora’s. That was Dunkin Donuts. I loved when Dick lived with us in Atlanta some when he went to GA. Tech. I have a picture of me and him sitting in a swing in our back yard. I wouldn’t take anything for that picture. Some of the memories I remember about Dick are him & Marie coming to our house in Lithia Springs when they were dating and later married. Debra, my cousin and I would stare Marie down & giggle. She thought we had the biggest eyes. They loved my Mom’s cooking. Dick lived the peas, boiled okra, home grown tomatoes. Marie loved the Boysenberry Cobbler. When they got married, I thought that was the prettiest Wedding. I was 8 years old and probably one of the first I had been to. Another thing that I was proud of when Dick went to Hawaii. He brought Debra and I back a hula grass skirt and I think a hula hoop. When we lived in Carrollton Dick, Marie & Heidi came to visit. They didn’t come too often. They were living in New Orleans then. He surprised me and picked me up at the bus stop. It was a two-story building that was a grocery store. I was in 8th grade. That made my day. I have tried to call him Bill when I am talking to other people. It just doesn’t work. He was Dick not Uncle Dick. Just Dick. I guess because there is just 20 years difference in age. RIP Dick, hope to see again. Love, Gail

Marie and family,
My heartfelt sympathy goes out to each of you. I cherish the memories of our times together and know that Gerald did also. Bill and Gerald were the same age and had so much in common. Love, Janis.

Heidi, I’m so sorry I won’t be able to be there for u. Prayers for u and your family. Love u, Marie Simmons

I love you Heidi, y’all are in our thoughts and prayers. See you tonight