Tupelo - Judith Joyner Hodges, 63, died on Tuesday, January 31, at 10:45 a.m. of pancreatic cancer. She was born on July 10, 1948 to Ernest Love Joyner, Jr. and Frances Elkin Joyner. A lifelong resident of Tupelo, she graduated from Tupelo High School, attended Lindenwood College for Women in St. Charles, Missouri, and graduated from the University of Mississippi, where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. She married her husband of over 42 years, William Francis Hodges on August 23, 1969. She taught school for five years before becoming a mother.

She was a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church, where she has served as a ruling elder, deacon, President of Presbyterian Women and worked on many committees. She was a life member and President of Junior Auxiliary of Tupelo and a life member of Tupelo Garden Club. She has done volunteer work through the years in such organizations as the PTA, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Salvation Army Auxiliary, NMMC Auxiliary, Tupelo Ballet, Sanctuary Hospice House Auxiliary and Helping Hands. She was an active member of the Fortnightly Matinee Club, the Mutual Culture Club, her two luncheon clubs and her bridge club.

She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, her son, Dr. William Francis “Frank” Hodges, Jr. (Kim), her daughter Margaret “Meg” Hodges Curtis (Chris), and her grandchildren William “Will” Francis Hodges, III, Mary McWhite Hodges, Samuel James Hodges, and Christopher Hodges Curtis, her brother, Ernest Love Joyner, III (Jamie) and her sister, Frances Joyner Brasfield (Dan).

Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 2, with Rev. Tom Groome officiating, and private burial immediately following. Visitation will be at First Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, February 1 from 4:00-7:00 PM and preceding the funeral service from 1:00-2:00 PM on Thursday.

Pallbearers will be: Dr. Joe Chappell, Dr. Doug Clark, Jim Collins, Dr. Bobby Dale, Judge Glen Davidson, Dr. Roger Lowery, Jack Phipps, Irvin “Buddy” Prude, and Morgan Whitfield.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Presbyterian Church, PO Box 1725,
Tupelo, MS 38802, Sanctuary Hospice House, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or a charity of the donor’s choice.