Douglas Norwood Hodges

Douglas Norwood Hodges (“Doug” or “Reverend Doug”), 78, passed away on December 29, 2024 in Ocala,Florida. Doug is survived by his loving wife Marjorie “Ann” Hodges and his loving daughter, Heatherly Helen
Hodges (Mike Reid), of Frederick, MD. Doug was preceded in death by his parents, Esther White and Elva Norwood Hodges, his brother John Hodges, and his first wife (mother of Heatherly), Helen Hawryluk Hodges. Of the three children born to Elva Norwood and Esther Hodges, only Doug’s sister, Edna Hodges, of Murphy, NC survives.

Doug grew up in Valdosta, GA where he developed an interest as a young child in the Bible. Doug attended Georgia Christian School in Dasher, GA and graduated from Lowndes County High School where he
played football, participated in band and debate club and was a student leader. Throughout his life, Doug
maintained friendships with his high school friends. As a young boy, Doug sold Bibles door-to-door. He was
determined to one day be a minister – a goal he accomplished some years later. Doug also worked in the family business, the Georgia Business Institute for several years as a teen and a young adult. Doug spent a year in Wellington, New Zealand, preaching the gospel as part of a Church of Christ youth movement called “The Truth Corps.” His lodging and meals were paid by the church and he earned a whopping $20 a week for his labors. When he returned to New Zealand many years later with wife Ann, Doug was able to find his former flat but the church where he worked had been torn down in favor of a motorway. Doug loved his time in New Zealand and learned many things that he incorporated into his ministry.

Doug acquired his Batchelor’s degree from David Lipscomb University, and graduated with a Masters of
Divinity from Eastern Baptist Seminary (now Palmer) in Philadelphia, PA. Doug worked as a youth minister at a church in Reading, PA, and pastored churches in Westland, MI, Springfield, IL, Radcliffe, KY, Upton, PA, Lemasters, PA and Fredericksburg, VA. Doug spent 17 years as pastor of the Fredericksburg United Church of Christ in Fredericksburg, VA. During his 50 plus years as a minister, Doug was pastor of Church of Christ, American Baptist, and United Church of Christ churches. Doug organized community programs to assist victims of domestic violence and North Hardin HOPE, an ecumenical program to coordinate services for low-income people. Doug also worked at the National AIDS Hotline and organized the NC Group to Alleviate Smoking Pollution (NC GASP).

Doug was a man of many interests. Although God and family were always first, Doug was an amateur sculptor, sculpting works that were shown at an art gallery in Georgetown, Washington, DC and in
Greencastle, PA. Doug was also an aspiring playwright, creating many stories from the Bible for his
churches. Doug wrote two plays, both of which had several “readings.” One was a story about a young
woman who acquired ALS, and the other was a dramatization of Mary Turner, an African-American woman
who was tragically lynched while pregnant because she protested the lynching of her husband and dared to
challenge authorities about the lynching. Both were well-received in Fredericksburg, VA but were never
actually produced. An avid traveler, Doug traveled to French Polynesia several times, Europe, most of the
Caribbean islands, Mexico, and many states in the United States. His favorite vacations involved a beach
and often a cruise. Doug loved exploring new places and learning about history by visiting historical sites.
He also loved his convertibles and was happiest while driving down the road with the sun on his face and
the wind blowing his full head of hair.

Doug was always interested and an active participant in interfaith councils and in charitable works and
social justice causes. Although he is gone from this world, most of Doug’s survivors are confident he is up in heaven with the angels. We remember his love of people of all types, races, religions, ages and experiences, the outdoors, his adopted state Florida, convertible automobiles, antique cars, small dogs, his church, his friends, and his family.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 17 at 11:00 am in the sanctuary of First Congregational
United Church of Christ, Ocala at 6140 SW 78th Avenue Rd., Ocala, FL 34481. In lieu of flowers, the family
suggests donations to the Micah Ecumenical Ministries, a collaboration of Fredericksburg, VA area
churches that assists the homeless. Micah Ministries is located at 1013 Princess Anne Street,
Fredericksburg, VA 22401. If you can attend the memorial, please wear brightly colored clothes and even
a Hawaiian shirt (Doug’s favorite attire).