Mary "Ms. Ethel" Hodges

Mary Ethel Ham Hodges, known to most who knew her simply as "Ms. Ethel,"

joined her beloved "Bro. Jimmy" in heaven on May 27, 2021. She was born on the farm

in Limestone County, Alabama on August 19, 1928, to W. H. and Cora Mae Overstreet

Ham, the youngest of eleven children. During WWII, she fell in love with James R.

Hodges, a submariner from Florence who was home on leave, and they married when

he returned from the war. After supporting him through his studies at Mississippi

College and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, she settled into her life as the

quintessential pastor's wife. Nothing made her happier than serving beside her man.

She touched lives and helped people wherever she went, always with her sweet

humility and endearing smile.

Ms. Ethel cooked enough fried chicken and pot roast to fill a boxcar or two during

their 56 married years and pastoring churches in Progress, McComb, Bentonia,

Hazlehurst, and Waynesboro, Mississippi and in Talladega, Robertsdale, Dadeville and

Alexander City, Alabama. She directed over 200 weddings and receptions, none of

which included even a drop of alcohol. She had a "sideline career" at the Alabama

School for the Blind, from which she retired in 1996, and her ASB "family" dedicated the

yearbook to her for her years of service there. After her Jimmy's death in 2002, she

carried on his tradition of visiting the sick and the shut-ins, continuing even after she

had to enlist her friends to drive for her. Her banana pudding and chocolate pound cake

were renowned, and her unannounced deliveries of baked treats were part of her "cake

lady" ministry until she (unwillingly) surrendered her car keys a few months after her 90th

birthday.

She provided a wonderful example and a wealth of love to her two boys, and

later to her grandsons, and great grandchildren. She was also "Mama" to the wives of

her sons, never allowing anyone to refer to them (or to the wives of her grandsons) as

"in-laws." Ms. Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved Jimmy, her

brothers Rufus, Grady and Raymond Ham, her sisters Orena Ham, Swannie Harris,

Gladys Threet, and Leona Corea, and by twin siblings who died at birth. She leaves

behind her faithful sister, Ila Carrigan of Florence, Alabama, and her forever grateful

children, Mike and CJ Hodges of Fernwood and Mark and Beth Hodges of Jackson; her

grandchildren Gabe and Lauren Hodges, Ben Hodges, Cole Hodges, and Kristie

Holman; her great grandchildren Michael, Emily, Mattie, Walker and Camille Hodges;

and her grand-dogs Belha and Vito, for whom she provided years of loving care.

A visitation will be held at West McComb Baptist Church on May 29, 2021 at 1:00 PM. The service will start at 2:00

PM, with Bro. Van Windom officiating. Burial will be at Progress Baptist Church Cemetery. Sharkey Funeral Home is in

charge of the arrangements.

Please share condolences at sharkeyfuneralhome.com