Janice Stewart Hodges

Janice Stewart Hodges, 77, passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus on Sunday evening, October 18, 2026 at SECU Hospice Home in Smithfield, NC. Born on July 25, 1949 in Johnston County, NC; Jan was one of two sons and two daughters to the late Ralph Lee Stewart, Sr. and Vera Holland Stewart.

Jan was raised in Four Oaks, NC and spent many days working on the family farm and cutting up with her Brothers and Sister.

She graduated from Four Oaks High School – Class of 1967. She was on the cheerleading team and an excellent scholar.

Jan attended East Carolina University after high school and eventually went to work for the IBM Coastal Employees Federal Credit Union which later became Coastal Federal Credit Union. She retired from a Branch Manager’s position to focus on her family.

Jan met her husband Joe on a blind date set up by his aunt Geraldene who worked with Jan in social services at the time. They dated for two and a half months before Joe knew Jan was the one and they were engaged. They married shortly afterwards in 1974.

After enjoying a brief retirement, Jan later worked for American Airlines where she helped travelers in a call center. The benefits of the position allowed her and her family to travel often. She made several trips with her girls group as well as bringing her family along on many adventures that created lasting memories. Jan did love to travel and in later years would accompany Joe on many road trips. Some of her favorite places to travel were London, Bar Harbor, ME, Napa Valley, Williamsburg, VA, The Carolina coast, and Kerr Lake.

Jan loved spending time with her family, especially at Kerr Lake. Jan and Joe spent many summers camping at Kimball Point with the Kimball Point Camping Crazies in a small camper with her family and friends. Jan and Joe built their own lake home in the Ponderosa neighborhood on Kerr Lake in 1989.

She loved reading books and could have started her own library of books. As well as reading, one of her favorite things to do was shop! Jan was excellent at finding deals and making sure every child and grandchild got exactly the same amount of gifts and value in gifts for each Christmas and Birthdays... Down to the penny. Jan and Joe raised two amazing men who became wonderful fathers themselves.

Jan first became a grandmother, better known as “Nana Jan,” in the early spring of March, 2006 to her granddaughter Skylar. She was then blessed with a grandson, Palmer, in January of 2010. She was blessed with another grandson Alexander (2012), granddaughter Adalynn (2015), and the youngest grandson, Mason (2021).

Nana Jan was actively involved in the lives of her grandchildren, just as she was when Randy and Stewart were growing up. She attended every possible event, ballgame, awards ceremony, play etc. that she could get to, even if it meant traveling far (she loved travelling anyway). Nana Jan always had her spirit wear on at the games of her children and grandchildren. She often worked concession stands, helped with fundraisers, and encouraged other parents to get involved in supporting the athletic programs her children and grandchildren were in.

Nana Jan loved visitors and house guests. Jan always welcomed the friends of her children and grandchildren into her home and made many extended family members out of friends. Every friend was family to Nana.

She is survived by her two sons: Joseph “Randy” Hodges, Jr. and wife Meredith, of Clayton and Stewart L. Hodges, of Garner; grandchildren: Skylar and Palmer Hodges and Alexander, Adalynn and Mason Hodges; brothers: Ralph Lee Stewart Jr. and wife Trish, and D. Reid Stewart; brothers in law: H. Lindsay Hodges and wife Bonnie, Horace P. Hodges Jr. and wife Linda; nephews and nieces: Sean Stewart, Denise Bridges, Brian Stewart, Kellie Smith, Will Stephenson, Lance Hodges, H. Paul Hodges III, Meg Peacock, and by other extended family and many friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents: Ralph Lee Stewart, Sr. and Vera Holland Stewart; husband: Joseph Randy Hodges, Sr.; sister: Faye Stephenson; nephew: Justin Stewart

A service celebrating Jan’s life will be held at 11:00am on Wednesday, October 28, in the Mausoleum Chapel of Raleigh Memorial Park. The family will receive friends following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to SECU Hospice Home, The V Foundation for cancer research, The American Stroke Association, all by using the links below, under 'Donations', or to a charity of your choice in her memory.

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