Marion Lowe Hodges

Marion Lowe Hodges' earthly life, one of tireless loving and doing for others, in a style all her own, ended peacefully on Dec. 10. She was 93. Many are united in gratitude for the great blessing of her influence. She was a human exclamation point, one who affirmed and encouraged, administering "TLC" to family, friends and strangers. Born in Dawson, Ga., she grew up as "Sis," the only daughter (with brothers Sam, Bill and Lewis) of the Rev. Sam F. Lowe and Maude Hammock Lowe. The family lived in Enterprise, Ala., and Meridian, Miss., then moved to Atlanta, where her father led Inman Park Baptist Church and founded the Southern Baptist Radio & Television Commission. She attended public schools, including Girls High, then went to Atlanta Junior College, and finally to Mercer University, where she graduated after two memorable years. During World War II, she lived at home, working in a federal agency, but also volunteering with the USO, writing untold numbers of letters to servicemen, and getting featured in the newspaper for donating more blood to the war effort than any of the men in her workplace. After the war and while working at Tucker Wayne Advertising Agency, she met Jake Hodges, who wooed her with every possible strategy, including carrying a pocketknife - one of her requirements in a beau. Their long, devoted, adventurous marriage began in 1948, and would include raising three sons, living at Blue Creek Farm, briefly running a barbecue restaurant and moving to Clayton County in 1955. There, she became "Mrs. H," serving as office manager of Jake's law practice, mastering the intricacies of home loan finance and helping him with literally thousands of closings. Jake was the first to acknowledge she was the preferred, if unlicensed, lawyer for many clients. Along the way, she served as a PTA president and president of the Clayton County Women's Chamber of Commerce. She was an active UDC and DAR member. Her deep Christian faith governed her, and she was everything from pulpit committee member to trustee to Sunday School superintendent at First Baptist Jonesboro and later First Baptist Church Forest Park. (She always wanted to be a deacon, but couldn't crack the all-male ranks. Maybe in heaven.) She became "Mom" with the birth of grandchildren, and relished that role, while also lovingly caring for Jake in his declining years. After his death in 1991, she continued running the family car wash, and acquired a real estate license and sold a motel through son Bill's firm. She stepped up her work as family archivist, and was proud to be an early female Kiwanis Club member in Forest Park. Quietly, but importantly, she was a freelance agent for good, taking early morning and late night counseling calls from hurting friends and family members, sometimes straightening out their finances, making calls and visits and sending satin pillow cases and toasted pecans to the bereaved or seriously ill. She kept the U.S. Postal Service going through her epic Christmas card list. When she learned of another's service to someone in need, she cheered, invariably saying, "You'll have stars in your crown." At 83, she surprised herself and everyone else by marrying Clifford Milam, a retired lawyer she met at church. They found love and companionship, beginning each day with coffee and plugging away at their yearly project of reading the entire Bible aloud. The Milam family embraced Mom completely, and she them. In the last couple of years, as her physical and memory challenges mounted, Mom complained little, and took to kissing the hands of caregivers and visitors. She was a role model to the end, and her influence goes on. Special thanks to Sheila Hodges for assembling a wonderful caregiver team, including Geraldine Yancey, Hilda Green, Delois Journey, Eva Norton, Marie Sesay. Jan Servais, a cousin who considered her Sis a second mother, offered crucial support. Maurice Scandrett, longtime Hodges family employee and friend, has been ever faithful. Survivors include husband Clifford Milam; sons Bill, Carl and Sam Hodges; daughters-in-law Sheila Hodges, Lynn Hodges and Kit Lively; grandchildren Amanda Hodges, Julie Hodges Melton and Clint Hodges; great-grandchildren Jackson Melton, Walker Melton and Addison Hodges. The funeral will be at Ford-Stewart Funeral Home in Jonesboro on Saturday at 2 p.m., with visitation Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and again an hour before the service. In lieu of flowers, contribute to First Baptist Forest Park, 634 Main St., Forest Park, GA 30297, phone: 404366-6333 or The office of University Advancement, Mercer University, 1400 Coleman Ave., Macon, GA 31207, phone: 1-800-837-2911 or do something for someone in need, adding stars in your crown, in imitation and honor of Marion Lowe Hodges. Ford-Stewart Funeral Home, Inc., Jonesboro/Stockbridge 707-210-2700. www.fordstewartfuneralhome.com

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Marion Lowe Hodges

October 23, 1921 - December 10, 2014