Mary Hodgens

Mrs. Mary Grace Wilson Hodgens, 84, of Demorest, GA, formerly of Albertville, AL died peacefully surrounded by her family, Wednesday, March 2, 2011, at Habersham Home East, Demorest, GA of complications following hip surgery.

Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 5th, 2011 at McRae Funeral Home in Boaz, Alabama, the Rev. James Elliot, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at New Harmony Cemetery, DeKalb County, Alabama. McRae Funeral Home of Boaz directing.

Born November 25, 1926 in Fort Payne, Alabama to Mary Francis Horton Wilson and Wallace Arnold Wilson, she was the 4th of 5 children: Ruth, Mattie Lou, Arnold, and Elizabeth. She married Paul Morton Hodgens on July 5th 1944. She graduated from Geraldine High School and studied theology through Howard Extension of Samford University. An Administrative Assistant and Legal Secretary, in 1986 she founded TES, Temporary Emergency Services, in Boaz, Alabama, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping families in crisis situations. Mrs. Hodgens and her husband, Paul, were founding members of Southside Baptist Church in Albertville, Alabama. She sang in the choir, and taught the Young Women's Sunday School Class for many years. At Grace Calvary Episcopal Church in Clarkesville, Georgia, she was active in the Daughters of the King, a spiritual sisterhood of women dedicated to a life of prayer, service and evangelism. Grace enjoyed singing, writing poetry and music, and reading.

Mrs. Hodgens is survived by her children: Lisa Hodgens of Demorest, GA, Paul Morton and Sharon Hodgens, Jr. of Boaz, AL, John Bart Hodgens of Birmingham, AL, Grandchildren: Elise Lumpkin Benoit and Todd Benoit of Richmond, VA, Paul Morton Hodgens, III, of Albertville, Alabama, Jenni Hodgens Russell and Sam Russell of Calera, AL, Brother and sister: Arnold (and Imogene) Wilson and Elizabeth (and Mike) Diorio. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Morton Hodgens, and two sisters: Virginia Ruth Griffin and Mattie Louisa Peek; and her niece and great niece Tina and Gracie Glasscock.

Memorial donations may be made to "Aging in Place," Grace Calvary Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 490 Clarkesville GA 30523 or to a charity of your choice.