- Date Of Birth: July 12, 1950
- Date Of Death: January 3, 2014
- State: Illinois
James A. Hodge, 63, of Versailles, died Friday, Jan. 3, 2014, at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.
He was born July 12, 1950, in Jacksonville, the son of Narlis and Shirley Day Hodge. He married Cheryl E. Duvendack on Apr. 10, 1971, at Trinity Lutheran Church near Meredosia, and she survives.
He is also survived by his mother, Shirley J. Black of Jacksonville; three sons, Timothy (Jeri) Hodge of Versailles, David Bodie (Renee) Hodge of Hebron, KY, and Rudy (Amy) Hodge of Versailles; two daughters, Cassie (Justin) DeVries of Mountain Grove, MO, and Alexis (David) Briggs of Buckhorn; 14 grandchildren, Kelsi, Alissa, Tori, Kylie, Caleb, Lacey, Lexiana, Zavian and Bentlee Hodge, Trace and Trygg DeVries, Davin Hodge, Briley Edlin and Ariana Briggs; two sisters, Janell (David) Meyer of Delavan and Narleen Owens of Jacksonville; half-sister, Carlta Hodge (Doug) Bridges of Herrin; half-brother, Russell (Lisa) Hodge of Eldorado; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Narlis Hodge; step-father, Frank “Jim” Black; and his first wife, Susan Swain Hodge, and their unborn son, James William Hodge.
Mr. Hodge worked at National Starch/Celanese in Meredosia for 28 years. Prior to that he had been a Deputy for the Morgan County Sherriff’s Department. He was baptized in the Presbyterian faith on Sept. 24, 1950. He was a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving two tours of duty in the Vietnam War.
Jim enjoyed farming and raising cattle. He especially enjoyed deer and squirrel hunting, fishing with family and friends, and making up silly poems for his grandchildren.
