John Newman Hodge, age 63, Russellville, passed away on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
John was a graduate of Russellville High School, he was very active in school sports, he lettered in track, basketball, & football playing under Coach Bill Doty and Coach John Tucker.
John’s first granddaughter Tori insisted on him being “Popeye” instead of “Pawpaw” and as the years went on she became his “Junkyard Dog”. Tyler, Popeye’s oldest grandson says he was a humble servant; a man like no other, but now he’s at rest at last with the Father.
Alex, his right hand man, will always remember the moments waking up at 4 in the morning and going down the mountain to go hunting and learning how to skin a deer, and remembering the moments riding with him on the tractor and bulldozers and sitting in his lap letting him drive those, those are the most cherish-able moments that we have and him getting him up ready for church and buttoning his shirts up and tying his shoes, and the times when he would ride him on the four wheeler around the house and up on his land, there’s one person in your life that is your role model, best friend, your hero, your go to guy, and that person was Popeye.
When little Shaynna came along a few years later, she got the name Shaynna Bug, Popeye always called the youngest boy, Caleb “The Boss”, Caleb summed everything up by saying, “Yes I know where Popeye is, he is in Heaven cooking ribs for Jesus.” Popeye’s great grandson (Reid Michael) will be arriving within the next few days, “Popeye’s putting the final grade on my road from Heaven to Earth.
See you all soon” The Prince girls (Tosha, Tiffany, & Ashley) loved Popeye’s chicken stew. Rea Rea said Popeye was always so good to her, just as if she was his own mother, he inspired her so much. Hollie, his daughter, says “Daddy you’ve won the race and I am blessed to have been a part of the run.” Chris, his son, says, Daddy was the best earthly Father, he loved me and I loved him better than life, he taught me how to become a Godly man and how to love my family like he loved his.
He also taught me how to love God and love others just like him. He is truly my hero and I want to be the man that he was. John became my knight and shining armor on January 19, 1993, he also became the hub of our family. John and his wife, Sandra, were married October 11, 1975.
So many beautiful and interesting years followed. John was a dedicated Christian and fulfilled his calling to the Lord by witnessing and serving on the mission field in Guatemala and Honduras, his greatest desire was to see souls saved. John was a part of many medical mission trips with various doctors, on those trips he was known as the “Brain Surgeon”. May the Grace, Mercy, and Peace of God be with all the lives John has touched.
God gave us a gift out of this tragedy. John 3:16 (WHO SO EVER). John was a fine Christian man, who loved his wife, his kids, family, and friends very much. He was a cherished member of Barton First Baptist Church. He loved to sing “Victory in Jesus” whenever he had a chance to lead the singing. John was a retired Walmart truck driver; however, his passion was running bulldozers.
The visitation will be 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, March 24, 2016 at Spry Memorial Chapel in Russellville. His funeral will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 25, 2016 at Barton First Baptist Church in Barton, AL, with his body lying in state for one prior to the service. Officiating at the service will be Bro. Micah Booth and Bro. Tommy West. He will be buried at Jonesboro Cemetery, Russellville, with Bro. Frank Whitaker speaking at the graveside.
John leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 40 years, Sandra Hodge; son, Chris Hodge (wife, LaShawn), daughter, Hollie Rea (husband, Lymann); grandchildren, Tyler Hodge (wife, Whitney), Tori Hodge, Alex Prince, Shaynna Hodge, Caleb Rea, Tosha Swearingen (husband, Cyrus), Tiffany Prince and Ashley Prince; God-grandchild, Ian D’Ambrosio; great-grandchild soon to arrive, Reid Michael Hodge; mother-in-law, Marie “Rea Rea” Matthews; brother, J.W. Hodge (wife, Cyndi); sister, Jane Denton (husband, Cecil); and a host of nieces & nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Freddie Vincent Hodge; mother, Nora Edna Hovater Hodge; brother, Neil Hodge; and his grandparents.
The pallbearers will be Tyler Hodge, Alex Prince, Jimmy Choat, Trey Alexander, Leland Timmons, Eric Weaver, Mark Sellers, Bill Alexander, Dan Thorn, and Neil Taylor. The honorary pallbearers will be close friends and church brothers.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial to Mission Fund, c/o Barton First Baptist Church, 12925 Hwy 72, Cherokee, AL 35616.
Spry Memorial Chapel assisted the family. To leave private condolences, please visit our website at sprymemorialchapel.com
