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James Walker Hodge, 85, of Taylorsville, Mississippi, passed away on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at the MS State Veterans Home in Collins, MS.
He was born Thursday, December 7, 1939, in Taylorsville, Mississippi.
Visitation will be held on Friday, February 21, 2025, from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Magee, Mississippi.
A private graveside funeral service will be held Friday, February 21, 2025, immediately following visitation.
James Walker Hodge was born on December 7th, 1939 to Hershel David and Hilma Jane Walker Hodge. James Walker, or “Sonny” as he was lovingly called by his sisters Peggy and Joyce, rounded out the first set of the three Hodges to be raised on Fellowship Road in Taylorsville, MS. After graduating from Taylorsville High School, James Walker married Emma Sue Yelverton and the two settled in on the familial grounds to raise their own three children: Gary, Nanette, and Micheal – all of whom now possess James Walker’s affinity for the labor, lessons, love, and life created on those grounds.
Despite what a few sizable fires may suggest about how treasured his land was to him, James Walker spent much of his free time outside enjoying it. He took pride in planting a garden, in particular one big enough to share with many others. He always looked forward to a hunt, especially when there was a heavy frost or he was getting to take one of his grandchildren. James Walker spent most of his time away from home at Southern Pine Electric, where many came to know him as DeVan over his 40 devoted years there. Upon retiring, James Walker loved taking trips to the Smoky Mountains and sometimes to the beach with his family. He also loved going to ballgames to watch his grandchildren play ball where you could see him almost always with tray of nachos or boiled peanuts.
When reflecting on their memories, James Walker’s sons Gary and Michael are comforted by a memory from their childhood. James Walker used to tell them not to go anywhere on Sundays because he needed their help “to check on something.” That something almost always resulted in James Walker taking a nap. So while James Walker goes “to check on something”, let us all continue to honor the names, memories, or his love for sweets that we shared with him as an ode to a simple life that was fruitful, faithful, and well-lived on Fellowship Road. He will forever be deeply missed and loved.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Emma Sue Yelverton Hodge; parents, Hershel and Hilma Hodge; father and mother-in-law, James Horace Yelverton and Clara Jones Yelverton, son-in-law, Tony Singleton; Sisters Joyce (Jackie) East and Peggy (Edward) Owens along with a host of many other family members.
Survivors include his three children, Gary Hodge (Judy) of Taylorsville, Nanette Singleton of Taylorsville, and Michael Hodge (Karen) of Pell City, AL; eight grandchildren, Suzette Sullivan (Brian), Dexter Singleton, Dr. Gary “Sonny” Hodge II (Dr. Bonnie Hodge), Tarrah Allen and Lindsay Hodge (Brandon Funderburg); five great-grandchildren, Brance Sullivan (Halley), Brady Sullivan, and Ella Allen and Walker Hodge; and a host of nieces, nephews and siblings of wife Sue.
Pallbearers will be Brian Sullivan, Brance Sullivan, Brady Sullivan, Dr. Gary “Sonny” Hodge II, and Brandon Funderburg. Honorary pallbearers will be Dexter Singleton and Walker Hodge.
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In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity or to the Alzheimer’s Association to help find a cure for this horrible disease that took our precious, Father and Grandfather from us this day.
Online guestbook may be signed at www.colonialchapelmageemendenhall.com
Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Magee is in charge of arrangements. (601) 849-5031
MageeNews.com is the online news source for Simpson and surrounding counties as well as the State of Mississippi
