Josephine Collins Hodge

Josephine Collins Hodge, 86, of Mount Airy went to be with her Heavenly Father on March 5, 2022, at Priddy Manor Assisted Living in King.  Josephine was born in Surry County, NC on February 25, 1936, to the late Eli and Nancy Ardella Draughn Collins.  Josephine retired from Cross Creek Apparel in Mount Airy, where she met her soul mate and husband of 64 years, Norris T. Hodge.  They were married on February 1, 1958.  Josephine was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Mount Airy where she loved to sing in the choir, taught Sunday School in her younger days and helped with other activities in the church.  Josephine enjoyed doing sewing and cross-stitching projects and for one church mission projects Josephine made over a 100 little dresses from pillowcases.  She graduated from Copeland High School in 1954.  Josephine was a loving wife, aunt, honorary grandmother and great-grandmother, and friend to everyone she met.  Left to cherish her memories are her loving husband, Norris T. Hodge; several nieces and nephews, Dale and Joyce Hardy, Larry and Jane Martin, Roger and Dale Haymore, Debbie Shelton, Steve and Janette Shelton, Steve and Becky Hardy, Bill and Judy Hardy, Brenda Collins, Mike Collins, Bonnie Collins, Carolyn Simmons, Junior Simpson, Jeffrey Simpson, Johan and Patricia Vandepoll, Michael and Lisa Chapman, Tim Collins, Scott Collins, and Richard Collins; “special grandchildren”, Joshua and Michele Hardy, Justin and Sarah Sharpe and a ”special great-grandson”, Noah Sharpe.  In addition to her parents, Mrs. Hodge was preceded in death by four brothers and their spouses, James and Connie Collins, Grady and Evelyn Collins, Fred and Gladys Collins, George Collins, and three sisters and their spouses, Pansy and Paul Hardy, Estha and Doris Chapman, and Mary Bet Simpson Southern, and by five nephews and nieces, Jerry Simpson, Gary Collins, Judy Collins Bell, Sue Collins White and Mark Hardy.  A funeral service will be held Sunday, March 13, 2022, at 2:00 PM at Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev. Alex Martin and the Rev. Steve Hardy officiating.  Burial will follow in Skyline Memory Gardens.  The family will receive friends Sunday from 1:00 until 2:00 PM at Calvary Baptist Church.  The family would like to thank the staff at Priddy Manor Assisted Living and the staff of Mountain Valley Hospice that helped take care of Josephine.  In lieu of flowers donations can  be made to Calvary Baptist Church, Attention: Alex Bracey, 314 South Franklin Rd., Mt. Airy, NC 27030 for the “Summer’s Youth Mission Trip.  Moody Funeral Services in Mount Airy is serving the Hodge family.  Online condolences may be made at www.moodyfuneralservices.com.