Willie Ellis "Billy" Hodges, Jr. age 80, of Columbus, Miss., died Friday, November 7, 2008, at Ms State Veterans Home in Kosciusko, Miss. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 Monday, November 10, 2008 at Memorial Funeral Home. Services will follow at 11:00 AM Monday, in the chapel of Memorial Funeral Home with Rev. Tom Bryson, officiating. Interment with military honors will be at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Columbus, Miss. Mr. Hodges was born November 22, 1927 in Meridian, Ms to the late Zula Mae Merritt Hodges and Willie Ellis Hodges, Sr. Billy served two tours of duty in the US Navy during World War II. He was employed by Bell South and retired in 1982 after 34 years of service. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church. He was an active outdoorsman and hunter. He also enjoyed traveling and camping with his family. He is survived by his wife of over 50 years Jane Clayton Hodges of Columbus; two daughters, Shelia Hodges McKie of Yazoo City, Ms and Angela Hodges Sandberg of Jacksonville, Ala. one son, Clayton Ellis Hodges of Mason, Ohio, a brother Edward Hodges of Meridian, Miss., mother-in-law Allie Tucker Spain Clayton of Columbus, brother-in-law William Herbert Clayton, Jr.(Donnie) of Linden, Tenn. and four grandchildren Hoover McKie, Katie Hodges Osborne, Claire Hodges and Andrew Sandberg. Pallbearers will be Frank Goodman, Harold Berry, Henry Elmore, Jerry Reynolds, Danny Atkins, Tom Cash, Felix Fancher and Billy Moss. Honorary Pallbearers will be members and partners of the Telephone Pioneers and employees and retirees of Bell SoutH-AT&T. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimers Association of Mid-Mississippi, 1900 Dunburton St., Suite 1, Jackson, Ms 39216.
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