Obituary of Reverend Melvin R. Hodges

Reverend Melvin Ralph Hodges, age 78, of Vilas, passed away Thursday morning, February 7, 2019 at his home. Born August 19, 1940 in Watauga County, he was a son of the late Ralph and Stella Hayes Hodges. Melvin was a jack of all trades and a bi-vocational minister. Reverend Hodges served several Baptist churches in the area, including Rich Mountain, Zion Hill, Liberty, Westview and Baird’s Creek. Melvin enjoyed a good time and lived life to the fullest. He loved his family unconditionally. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Margaret Cornell Hodges, two daughters, Teresa Eggers and husband Scott and Treva Story and husband Steve, all of Vilas, two grandchildren, Sarah Russell and husband Alan of Lillington, NC and Jacob Eggers and wife Jessie of West Palm Beach, Florida, one sister, Glenda Simmons and husband Jim of Vilas, and two sisters in law, Jean Hodges Hunsucker and husband Ken of Wilkesboro and Diane Cornell Presnell of Vilas, and a number of nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers, Vernon and Bobby Hodges and an infant sister Leona Hodges. Funeral services for Reverend Melvin Hodges will be conducted Sunday afternoon, February 10, 2019 at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church. Officiating will be Rev. Wynn Greer, Rev. Derek Hodges and Rev. Mike Townsend. Burial will follow in the Danner Cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon prior to the service from 1 PM until 3 PM at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 3815 or to the American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060. Online condolences may be shared with the Hodges family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Hodges family.