Funeral services for Gladys Stewart Richardson Hodges are Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015, at 2 p.m. at Gum Grove Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery. Bro. Benji Pyeatt and Bro. William Durr will be officiating the services. Brookhaven Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Visitation is Friday, Dec. 18, 2015, from 5 until 8 p.m. at Brookhaven Funeral Home and will continue Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015, from 1 p.m. until the time of services at the church.

Mrs. Hodges, 85, died Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015. She was born July 8, 1930, in Lincoln County, to Georgia Buitt and Lee Stewart.

Mrs. Hodges was a lifelong member of Gum Grove Baptist Church. She was known for her love of animals. She never met a cat or dog that she didn’t love. Gladys worked as a nurse technician at King’s Daughters Medical Center for many years. She loved her work and taking care of those in need. She led by example in taking care of those less fortunate. This devotion to caregiving was influential in the career paths of her children and grandchildren as many of them chose healthcare careers.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband and father of her four children, Harvey Allen Richardson; husband, Homer Hodges; and brother, Virgil Stewart.

Survivors are her children, Betty Richardson and husband, Bill Noland, of Bogue Chitto, Ronald “Ronnie” Richardson of Bogue Chitto, Karen Richardson and husband, Joseph Kwentus, of Madison and Brenda Richardson Hall and husband, Johnny Ray, of Bogue Chitto; step-sons, Richard Hodges, Robert Hodges and Randall Hodges, all of Bogue Chitto; sisters, Dorothy Babb and husband, Marvin, of Bogue Chitto and Larkell Delise of Labadieville, Louisiana;  10 grandchildren, who she was so proud of, Michele Richardson Hughes and husband, Les, Sean Richardson and wife, Toni, Renee Richardson Lee and husband, Scott, Emily Hall, Lacey Lofton, Sara Hall Renfroe and husband, Dillon, Tressie Hall Durr and husband, William, Terri Richardson Jackson, Briana Hall Price and Stuart Hall and wife, Sarabeth; 19 great-grandchildren, who were the joy of her life; one great-great-granddaughter, who was the “icing on the cake”; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The family would like to thank the staffs of Sta-Home Health Agency and McComb Nursing and Rehab Center, as well as Mrs. Hodges’s two nieces, Emma Buitt Smith and Martha Sanford, for all their care and support.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in memory of Gladys Hodges to Brookhaven Animal Rescue League, P. O. Box 3477, Brookhaven, MS 39603.

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