Rayford Patterson Hodges

Rayford Patterson Hodges, 82, of Abbeville, husband of the late Doris A. Stone Hodges, passed away peacefully at his residence on Monday, November 29, 2010. He was born in Abbeville to the late Milton J. & Sallie Mae Patterson Hodges and was raised by his aunt and uncle, the late Iris and John Walker. Mr. Hodges was a devoted member of South Side Baptist Church and the Allen Crawford Sunday School Class. He retired from CSX Railroad after 21 years of service. Mr. Hodges was an active member of the Clinton Masonic Lodge #3 in Abbeville where he has been a Mason for 58 years. He served as Past Master of the Clinton Lodge and Past District Deputy Grand Master of the 11th District. He will be remembered as a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend and will be missed by all that knew him. In addition to his beloved wife, Doris, who passed away in May of this year, his parents, and his aunt and uncle which raised him, he was preceded in death by a brother, Milton J. Hodges, Jr., and two sisters, Inez 'Tiny' Thompson and Kathleen Lee. Mr. Hodges is survived by two daughters, Rebecca H. Kidd and her husband Doyle of Abbeville and Patsy Price and her husband Harold of Greenwood; two sons, David Hodges and his wife Holly of Spartanburg and Curt Hodges of Columbia; two sisters, Rosemary Copeland and her husband Gene of Abbeville and Bennie Jane Harsey of Ballentine, SC; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 1:00PM to 2:30PM, on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at Harris Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin at 3:00PM in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Earl Hartley officiating. Burial will follow in Melrose Cemetery with Masonic Rites. The family is at the home on Bowie Street. Memorial contributions, in memory of Mr. Hodges, may be sent to South Side Baptist Church, 505 W. Greenwood, St., Abbeville, SC 29620. A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com. HARRIS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES is assisting the Hodges family.