Norman "Frank" Franklin Hodges Jr.

Norman Franklin “Frank” Hodges, Jr., 61, a resident of Columbia, SC, passed away on Thursday, August 17 at St. Vincent Hospital in Birmingham, AL. He was preceded in death by his mother, Carol Harris Hodges of Columbia, SC; maternal grandparents, Harold and Lillian Harris of Columbia, SC; and paternal grandparents, Paul and Addie Hodges of Columbia SC.

He is survived by his father Norman Hodges of Columbia, SC; his sisters Ann (Gary) Roemer of Wewahitchka, FL and Tracy (Steve) Rockco of Clanton, AL; his children Brendan Anderson, Caiti Hodges, and Lillian “Vincent” Hodges, and their mother, Lisa Ramsey Hodges, all of Columbia, SC; his grandson Kevin Anderson and mother Lindsey Thweatt of Panama City, FL; a sister-cousin, Denise Allen of Marion, NC; a host of nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews; and a special group of “around-the-way-adopted-half-step-children” from his many years of working in education.

Frank was born in Columbia, SC, moved to Mexico Beach in 1975 where he attended Port St. Joe High School until his graduation in 1980. He attended Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, FL. Over the next few years he lived briefly in Maplesville, AL and Panama City, FL before settling back in Columbia, SC for the majority of his adulthood and also where he started his family.

Frank worked in education in various roles for most of his life. He was the “go to” person for any project that required editing, music, scenery, costumes, makeup, cultural knowledge, intellectual insight, or compassion. He prided himself on always making his children’s halloween costumes from head to toe each year. He was a true lover of nature and of all creatures great and small. He rarely had a moment in his life where he didn’t have an aquarium filled with snakes, amphibians, or fish. Over the years he had rabbits, chickens, and cats…among others. He took great pride in caring for plants that had some sentimental significance. He was also a lover of all genres of music and had great appreciation for unique artists and sounds. Frank was talented musically and gifted artistically, which he generously shared with all who were fortunate to know him. He was truly a well-rounded individual and could talk just as fluently about current news topics as he could Dr. Who, the latest movies as well as the classics, Miss Universe as well as social issues facing Americans. He was well read and journaled daily for the greater part of his life. Perhaps one of his greatest attributes, though, was his love of family and friends. He was a sentimental soul who was the person who always stayed in contact with all family and all friends from over the decades and everywhere he lived. He truly cared about how everyone was doing. His own health struggles may have kept him from being present in person, but he was always available to all - day or night - to provide a listening ear and a supportive message.

Frank loved his family fiercely. He was proud of his children and always shared their accomplishments and celebrated their talents. He was extremely excited to become a grandfather, an uncle, and a great uncle. He cared for his father in his home assuring his needs were met and communicated as the big brother with his two sisters on a daily basis. He always knew the latest with all distant family because he was the one who created the family FB groups to stay in touch. The void he leaves is tremendous and there will be no one who can match his presence in filling it. He will be greatly missed by all.

Frank was visiting his sister in AL with his father to celebrate his 91st birthday. While there, he became sick, developed an infection, and required an emergency surgery, that he, due to his poor health over the years, was not able to recover from. The MICU staff at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham worked diligently to save him, but the post-operative issues were too great to overcome. He passed peacefully in his hospital room lovingly surrounded by family in person and by phone.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Frank Hodges on Saturday, September 9, 2023 at 2:00 PM at the TD Bank Room at The River Center at Saluda Shoals, 5605 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC. Refreshments will be served. The family would like to invite you to wear red or Hawaiian-style attire to honor Frank's personality.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.rockcofuneralmontevallo.com for the Hodges family.