Beverly Hodges Fite, 99, passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, August 7, 2026 surrounded by family. She was born on October 22, 1926, on Sherman Street in Decatur, Alabama to Ruby Ann Speake and Davis Jackson Hodges and grew up with her beloved siblings: Sarah, Hazel, Jackson, Genie and Frances. Beverly graduated from Riverside High School in 1944 where she was voted Most Attractive and where she met the love of her life, James Robert Fite (Jim). After high school, Beverly worked for the Veterans Administration.
Beverly and Jim wed on November 8, 1947 and over their 71-year marriage, until his death in 2018, built a home together that became the cornerstone of their large and ever-growing family. While Jim was working with his brothers, and eventually his sons, to build Gobble-Fite Lumber Company, Beverly’s work at home provided the structure and support needed to allow the family-owned business to flourish. Jim often told his children that their mother was responsible for his success. The couple supported each other and built the framework for generations to come on how to love their spouses and children well.
Beverly had an open-door policy where all were welcome. Whether it was keeping a freezer full of ice cream sandwiches for drop-in visits, having spontaneous tea parties for granddaughters or hosting family holidays, Beverly provided a place for everyone to gather. Just as comfortable on the river as her home, Beverly insisted on water skiing at least once a year! Her walk with Christ was exemplified in her acts of hospitality and her gift of anticipating the needs of her family, friends, church and community.
Beverly is survived by her five children and their spouses: James Robert Fite Jr. (Sherry), Davis Patterson Fite Sr. (Jane), William Jackson Fite Sr. (Laura) and Dan Sumerville Fite Sr. (Kim) of Decatur, Alabama and Elizabeth Fite Bussey (Andy) of Atlantic Beach, Florida; sixteen grandchildren: James Robert Fite III, (Ruth Ann) of Decatur, Alabama; Robert Benjamin Bussey II (Suzette) of Charleston, South Carolina; Elizabeth Hodges Bussey Newton (David) of Falls Church, Virginia; Winston Sellers Fite (Caitlin) of Decatur, Alabama; Kathryn Williams Bussey Filipiak (Reid) of Washington, Georgia; Andrew Nathan Bussey (Rawan) of Atlantic Beach, Florida; Davis Patterson Fite Jr. (Christina) of Decatur, Alabama; Mary Leigh Fite of Cliffside Park, New Jersey; Thomas Phillips Fite (Alexandra) of Ogden, Utah; Beverly Burgoyne Fite McClendon (Fuller) of Huntsville, Alabama; Sarah Marriott Fite Brooks (Foster) of Huntsville, Alabama; William Jackson Fite Jr. (Jordan) of Huntsville, Alabama; Dan Sumerville Fite Jr. of Los Angeles, California; Beverly Hodges Fite of Houston, Texas; Kimberly Dawson Fite of Birmingham, Alabama; and Robert Crawford Fite of Decatur, Alabama, and twenty-three great grandchildren: Mattie Ann Fite and Nancy Leigh Fite of Decatur, Alabama; Winston Sellers Fite Jr and Sydney Kay Fite of Decatur, Alabama; David Thomas Newton Jr., James Passage Newton, Merritt Hodges Newton, and Emily Ann Newton of Falls Church, Virginia; Josephine Fite Filipiak, Edmund Roch Filipiak, and Benjamin Reid Filipiak of Washington, Georgia; Zain Andrew Bussey and Ashton Noor Bussey of Atlantic Beach, Florida; Thomas Harrison Fite, Waylon Joseph Fite, John Woodliff Fite and Georgia Louise Fite of Ogden, Utah; Hugh Fuller McClendon, III and Robert Pearce McClendon of Huntsville, Alabama; William Foster Brooks Jr and Marriott Louise Brooks of Huntsville, Alabama; Margot James Fite and William Jackson Fite III of Huntsville, Alabama along with many dear nieces and nephews from the Fite and Hodges families.
Visitation will be Monday, August 10, 2026 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm at Roselawn Funeral Home. A graveside service for extended family will be Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 10:00 am at Decatur City Cemetery with her great nephew, Jack Lovelace, officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be her grandsons.
The family would like to thank caregivers Sheri Swoopes-Nash, Shelby Johnson, Jan Harmon, Jackie Harris, Angela Hayes, Ramona Emerson and Leighann Frances for their selfless dedication for over six years; Dr. Scott Matthews for his excellent care; and Hospice of the Valley in her final days. A special thank you to the Decatur Church of Christ congregation, formerly Grant Street Church of Christ, for the love and friendship throughout her life.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Decatur Church of Christ, 2833 Danville Rd SW, Decatur, Alabama 35603; Hospice of the Valley, PO Box 2745, Decatur, Alabama; and Childhaven, 1816 Childhaven Road NE, Cullman, Alabama 35055.
