Marcia Ruth Hodgson

Marcia, known as “Murph” to friends and family, was born on April 15, 1956, at her childhood home in Wellesley, Massachusetts. She was the only child of William Michael Murphy Jr. and Barbara Celia Blackwell Murphy and grew up in the Town of Wellesley.

Marcia graduated from Principia Upper School in St. Louis, Missouri, in June 1974. She briefly attended Michigan State University before transferring to George Washington University, where she earned degrees in Political Science and Journalism in 1978.

After college, Marcia embarked on a career in writing, working for several newspapers. Her first position was as a staff writer for The Christian Science Monitor in Boston, Massachusetts. She then moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where she became a sportswriter for The Anchorage Daily News. Eventually, Marcia returned to New England, taking on the role of sportswriter for The Day in New London, Connecticut.

While living in Amherst, Massachusetts, Marcia met her husband of 37 years, Robert “Bob” Hodgson. Though they had grown up in neighboring homes in Wellesley, they were introduced through a blind date arranged by Ann Cliff, the mother of their childhood friends, Dudley and Nina Cliff. After a brief two-week courtship, they became engaged and were married in Wayland, Massachusetts, in September 1984, with Marcia’s cousin, Rev. Janet M. Cooper Nelson, officiating the ceremony.

As newlyweds, Marcia and Bob both worked at Amherst College. A few years later, Bob accepted a position at Elliot Hospital, which prompted the family’s move to Manchester, New Hampshire. It was during this time that their family expanded with the births of their daughters, Celia (January 1990) and Hillary (February 1992).

In the early 90’s, Bob’s career eventually brought the family to settle in Neptune Beach, a charming beachside community in Jacksonville, Florida. During this time, Marcia was a devoted stay-at-home mom, actively involved in her daughters’ schooling and extracurricular activities. She enjoyed hosting parties and after-school gatherings for friends and neighbors. Additionally, Marcia served as the Troop Leader for Hillary and Celia's Girl Scout Troops, organizing numerous camping trips and memorable adventures for her daughters and their friends over the years. Above all, she made her daughters’ education a top priority.

In 1999, Marcia’s mother, Barbara, moved from California to be closer to Marcia and her family, leading them to relocate to a larger home in Ponte Vedra Beach. Having lost her father in July 1981, and with her mother recently mourning the loss of her twin sister, Beverly, it felt only natural for Marcia to have Barbara nearby in Florida. This arrangement also gave Hillary and Celia the precious opportunity to spend more time with their grandmother.

In the summer of 2003, Marcia and Bob bought a townhome in Chesterfield, Missouri, to allow Celia and Hillary to attend Principia Upper School as day students for middle and high school. Having cherished her own time at Principia, Marcia wanted the same high quality education for her daughters. The family split their time between St. Louis and Ponte Vedra Beach until Hillary’s graduation in 2010. During this period, Marcia’s mother, Barbara, continued to live with the family until her passing in September 2010.

Celia attended Flagler College in St. Augustine, while Hillary pursued her studies at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. With her daughters away at school, Marcia found more time to hone her writing skills and further her education. In 2015, she earned a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from The University of Tampa. Equipped with her newly acquired degree, Marcia became the Managing Editor at The Resident Community News, Inc. A master storyteller, Marcia believed in the power of words to build meaningful relationships, whether through writing, conversations, or face-to-face interactions. She especially enjoyed conducting man-on-the-street interviews with locals in the greater Jacksonville communities.

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a major career shift for Marcia. With significant changes in the publishing industry and the rise of remote work, she found it increasingly challenging to continue her role at The Resident. In 2021, Marcia embraced a new opportunity, taking on the role of Communications Director at the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors (NEFAR). Around this time, as Bob’s health was declining, Hillary and Celia returned to their home in Ponte Vedra Beach so the family could shelter in place together. The time spent with Bob during this period became especially precious for Marcia and her daughters, as they tragically lost him in January 2022. Marcia was grateful to have her daughters close by, allowing them to face this heartbreaking loss together.

In her spare time, Marcia was an avid reader, a passion that naturally complemented her love for writing. Always up for an adventure, she traveled to nearly every U.S. state and, in recent years following Bob’s passing, had the opportunity to explore several countries, including Portugal, Iceland, and Mexico. Marcia was also interested in genealogy, tracing her family’s lineage back to the early American settlers on the Mayflower.

As an only child, she cherished her connections with her cousins and frequently organized family gatherings and reunions. Marcia was a member of The Lodge & Club in Ponte Vedra Beach and enjoyed walking the beach in the mornings with her best friend, Nina Cliff, often sharing stunning sunrise beach photos on Facebook. She was an active parishioner at Trinity Parish Church in St. Augustine and, more recently, at St. John’s Cathedral in Jacksonville.

Marcia was a devoted mother to her two beloved daughters, Celia Hope Hodgson, and Hillary Anne Hodgson, both of Jacksonville, Florida. She is survived by her daughters.

A funeral service celebrating Marcia’s life will be held on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 1:00 pm at St. John’s Cathedral located at 256 E Church St, Jacksonville, FL 32202. There will be an onsite reception with refreshments to follow. The service will be live-streamed through St. John's Cathedral's website at https://www.youtube.com/live/br_NVtw6REQ.

Interment will be in the Hodgson Family plot in Woodlawn Cemetery in Wellesley, Massachusetts in the summer. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Jacksonville Humane Society, 8464 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, Florida, 32216. https://jaxhumane.org./