VIRGIL HALL HODGES HAD THE UNIQlJE ABILITY, IN THE SAME CONVERSATION, TO ENGAGE THE ATTENTION OF A CURJOUS YOUNG CHILD, ON THE ONE HAND, AND TO HOLD THE ATTENTION OF A NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL DIGNITARY, ON THE OTHER. 
HE HAD AN EASY GOING SINCERITY AND MAGNETISM THAT DREW HIM TO OTHERS AND DREW OTHERS TO HIM. HE TRULY ENJOYED MEETING DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE, LISTENING TO THEIR STORIES , CONNECTING PEOPLE HE KNEW WITH PEOPLE YOU KNEW, LAUGHING OUT LOUD, REALLY RELISHING A DELiCIOUS MEAL, AND ACQlJIRING NEW KNOWLEDGE ABOUT, WELL, ALMOST ANYTHING! WHILE ALL OF THESE THINGS PERFECTLY DESCRIBE VIRGIL, WHAT HE LOVED MOST WAS BEING IN THE COMPANY OF HIS LOVING FAMILY. NOR DID THIS 
BROTHER, A MENTOR AND VIRGIL'S EXTENDED FAMILY 
 
  Ercile, Verna ho!Jing Little VirgiL and Afother Ruth 
VIRGIL CAME BY THAT LOVE OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS MOST NATURALLY. IT WAS INSTILLED IN HIM BY HIS 
MOTHER. OR. RUTH HALL HODGES AND HIS FATHER VIRGIL WENDELL HODGES. HE WAS TRULY HIS PARENTS ' 
CHILD, COMBINING THE ACADEMIC CURIOSITY OF BOTH PARENTS WITH THE CWIET DETERMINATION OF HIS MOTHER AND THE GREGARIOUS PEOPLE SKILLS OF HIS FATHER. HE KNEW THAT FAMILY MATTERED AND THAT GOOD FRIENDS WERE TRUE GOLD. 
 
 A NATIVE ATLANTAN, VIRGIL WAS BORN DECEMBER6, 1936. HE GREW UP AND ATTENDED SCHOOLS WITH SUCH WORLD NOTABLES AS MAYNARD JACKSON , LOUIS SULLIVAN AND VERNON JORDAN. THE HODGES FAMILY AND THE ENTIRE FAM.ILY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ENJOYED A LIFELONG, LONG-STANDING FRIENDSHIP. 
VIRGIL'S FATHER, V.W. HODGES WAS THE ASSOCIATE EDITOR OF THE ATLANTA DAILY WORLD, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN DAILY NEWSPAPER IN THE NATION. HIS MOTHER, DR. RUTH HALL HODGES, WAS A PIONEERING ART PROFESSOR AND FOUNDING CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ART AT MORRIS BROWN COLLEGE. THE COLLEGE'S ART GALLERY IS NAM ED IN HER HONOR. HIS YOUNGER BROTHER. DR. DAVID JULIAN HODGES. IS THE WELL- KNOWN PROFESSOR OF ANTHROPOLOGY AT HUNTER COLLEGE OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK. 
' VIRGIL ATTENDED OGLETHORPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL E.R. CARTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BOOKER T. 
WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL, THE MOUNT HERMON SCHOOL IN MASSACHUSETTS, AND THE TILTON SCHOOL IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. RETURNING HOME TO ATLANTA, HE COMPLETED HIS BACHELOR'S DEGREE AT MORRIS BROWN COLLEGE , WHERE HE GRADUATED MAGNA CUM LAUDE AS A MEMBER OF THE ESTEEMED CLASS OF 1958. HE RECEIVED HIS MASTERS DEGREE IN SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY WHERE HE ALSO COMPLETED COURSE WORK FOR THE DOCTORATE. 
VIF-GlL'S FOOTBALL STORIES AND MEMORIES ARE LEGENDARY. FOR HIS ACHIEVEMENTS IN FOOTBALL. ON OCTOBER 12, 1991 HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE MORRIS BROWN SPORTS HALL OF FAME. lN 1959, HE BEGAN HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER AS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY AT PHILANDER SMITH COLLEGE IN 4 LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS WH ERE HE ALSO SERVED AS ASSISTANT TO PHILANDER FOOTBALL COACH WALLACE BLY, AND MENTORED ELIJAH PITTS WHO WENT ON TO BECOME AN OUTSTANDING GREEN BAY PACKER, NFL COACH AND LIFELONG FRlEND. 
 
 Dr. Kin;;n;~ 'J P.otrait 111~ ~~inted /;y 
D Vtrgd d mother. t: Ruth HaLL nuo'J' .CJe<t 
 
 . AFTER TEACHING AT PHILANDER SMITH FOR TWO YEARS, HE RETURNED TO NEW YORK FORA POSITION WITH THE NEW YORK CITY YOUTH BOARD. IN 
1969, VIRGIL BEGAN HIS CAREER IN NEW YORK STATE GOVERNMENT, AS 
DIRECTOR OF THE MOUNT MORRIS PARK REHABILITATION CENTER IN 
CENTRAL HARLEM. IN 1972, HE WAS PROMOTED TO DIRECTOR OF ARTHUR 
KILL. THEN NEW YORK STATE 'S LARGEST DRUG REHABILITATION CENTER. 
lN 1977. VIRGIL WAS APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF THE COMPREHENSIVE 
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ACT DIVISION (CETA) AT THE STATE OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, WHERE HE ADMINISTERED AN ANNUAL 
GRANT OF MORE THAN $200 MILLION. FROM 1981 UNTIL AUGUST 1991, HE 
SERVED AS DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WHERE HE HAD RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE 
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DIVISION, THE NY STATE ]OB SERVICE, JTPA 
AND THE STATE'S ENTIRE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SYSTEM, 
OVERSEEING AS MANY AS 5.000 EMPLOYEES AND A BUDGET OF MORE THAN $12 BILLION. 
VIRGIL'S SERVICE CONTINUED AS HE WAS APPOINTED BY THEN NEW YORK STATE GOVERNOR MARIO CUOMO AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK STATE MARTIN LUTHER KING, }R. COMMISSION AND INSTITUTE FOR NONVIOLENCE, A PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION WHOSE FOUNDING CHAIR WAS HARRY BELAFONTE. AFTER RETIRING FROM THIS POSITION IN 
1995. VIRGIL ACCEPTED A POSITION WITH INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEMS, INC. 
AND APPLIED HIS EXPERTISE IN LABOR. EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING COUPLED WITH HIS GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE BACKGROUND TO HIS POSITION AS VICE PRESIDENT FOR GOVERNMENTAL AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS AT THIS NEW JERSEY- BASED OCCUPATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE COMPANY. 
 
 THEREAFTER, VIRGIL 
 
ATLANTA ROOTS AND 
 
IMMEDIATELY BECAME INVOLVED IN CO-FOUNDING THE RICHARD ALLEN 
 
CLASSIC GROUP, COMPRISED OF LIKE-M.lNDED PHILANTHROPIC ATLANTANS. AS 
 
RECENTLY AS LAST NOVEMBER, THE GROUP HONORED HIM WITH THE GIFTED 
 
GIVER AWARD. THIS AWARD GAVE HIM A NEW BURST OF ENERGY TO CONTINUE 
 
HIS PHILANTHROPIC ENDEAVORS, EVEN AS HIS HEALTH WAS DECLINING . VIRGIL 
 
WAS A DEVOTED MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MORRIS BROWN 
 
COLLEGE , THE TRUSTEE BOARD OF ALLEN TEMPLE AME CHURCH, THE BOARD 
 
OF DIRECTORS OF THE HISTORIC SOUTH-VIEW CEMETERY ASSOCIATION , AND 
 
THE ATLANTA VOTERS UNITED. HE CHERISHED HIS 50+ YEAR MEMBERSHIP IN 
 
THE ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY. 
 
HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF ADVISORS OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING , JR. CENTER FOR NONVIOLENT SOCIAL CHANGE IN ATLANTA. A LIFE MEMBER OF THE NAACP. A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE LABOR BRANCH OF THE NAACP, AND OF THE ALBANY NEW YORK BRANCH OF THE NAACP. HIS NUMEROUS HONORS, AWARDS AND SPECIAL COMMENDATIONS INCLUDE THE COVETED BENJAMIN POTOKER BROTHERHOOD AWARD OF THE NEW YORK STATE EMPLOYEES BROTHERHOOD COMMITTEE; THE EL PITIRRE AWA'RD OF ASPIRA, INC.; THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD OF THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS; AND THE MARKS OF EXCELLENCE AWARD OF THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION OF BLACK PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS. VIRGIL WAS THE FIRST NEW YORK STATE AGENCY EMPLOYEE TO RECEIVE THE BLACK AND PUERTO RICAN LEGISLATORS AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE , AND HE RECEIVED SEVE .RAL U.S. CONGRESSIONAL CITATIONS. 
 
 ., 
 
. 
 
ORDER OF SERVICE 
 
: 
 
FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2014 
11:00 AM 
ALLEN TEMPLE AME CHURCH 
1625 JOSEPH E. BOONE DRIVE ATLANTA. GEORGIA 30314 
PRELUDE ... .. ...... ...... ... ...... ................................. MEDLEY OF SPIRITUALS ARRANGED BY DR. FREDERICK D. HALL 
The tnedLey pLaying ad an introit to the beginning of thu .1ervice were Afro-American Spiritual! arranged by VirgiLd uncLe, Dt: Frederick HaL' compoJet; conductor and tnu.:~icofogi10 who derved with dutinction a.1 head of the mlldic departnuntd at JeveraL hutoricafLy BLack coLLegu: Jackdon CoLLege in Jackdon, MS (1921-1926); CLark CoLLege, AtLanta, GA (1926-1935); DiLLard UniCJet(fily, New OrLeand, LA (1936-1941);ALahanuz State Teacherd CoLLege, Montgomery ALahatna (1941-1955); Southern Univerdity, Baton Rouge, LA (1956-1960); and again at DiLLard UniverJity (1960-1974). Dt: HaLL wa.1 auo a nutnber of the conunittee charged by AME Buhop D. Ward Nicho!d with the 1941 revilion of the AME HymnaL. 
PRESIDING ............................................................THE REVEREND THOMAS L. BESS, Pa.1t01; ALLen TempLeAME Church 
THE PROCESSIONAL HYMN ............ .......... ...... .. .. .... ... ..... ..... .... ... .... .. ......................... ......... FOR ALL THE SAINTS 
THE HYMN OF COMFORT. ..... .......... ............ .. ...... ..... .... . . HYMN #84 ........ ....... .... .......... ....GREAT lS THY FAITHFULNESS Congregation PLea.1e Stand 
Great if Thy faithfuLnuJ, 0 God tny Father; There uno dhadow of turning with Thee, 
Thou changedt not, Thy conzpa.1.1iond they faiL not, Ad Thou ha.1t been, Thou forever wiLt be. 
Refrain: Great u Thy faithfufne.Jd I Great MThy faithfuLneJJ I Morning by nwrning neH' nurcied I dee AIL I haCJe needed Thy hand hath provided Great iJ Thy faithfuLne<M, Lord unto tnel 
Swnnur and winter and dpringtilne and harvut, Sun, nwon, and .1tar.1 in theLi cour.1e.1 above; Join with aLL nature in nuznifoLd witnuJ, To Thy great faithfuLnedJ, nurcy, and love. 
(Refrain) 
Pardon for dLiz and a peace that endureth, Thine own great pruence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow BfeJJingd aLL mine, with ten thouJand be<tlJe. 
(Refrain) 
- THE PRAYER OF COMFORT. ................. .... .. ..... .........:....... .............THE REVEREND DORIS RlGGS, ALLen Te1npLeAME Church 
THE SCRIPTURE. .. .... ................ ... ... ...... .. ... .. ....... .... ....... .THE REVEREND SIDNEY BARNETT, Affen TenzpfeAME Church 
 
 HYMN .. .. ..... ... .. ..... ...... ..... .......... .. ... .... ........... ... .. .......... ....... HOW GREAT THOU ART. ALLen TempLeAME Church Choir 
 
0 LORD my God! When I in aweJonu wonder 
Coruider aLl the worlc.J Thy hand hath made; I dee the dtar.J, I hear the mighhJ thunder; 
Thy pow 'r throu_qhout the uni~Jerde di.1played: 
Refrain: 
Then dingd my dOll~ my Sa~Jiour God, to Thee, How great Thou art! How great Thou art! 
Then ding.J my dOll~ my Sa~Jiour God, to Thee, How great Thou art! How great Thou art! 
When through the wood.J and foredt gladu I wander And hear the birdd ding dweetfy in the treed; 
When I Loolc down fr01n Lofty mountain grandew; And hear the broolc, and feeL the gentle breeze: 
 
Refrain 
And when I thinlc that God, Hu Son not dparin.th Sent Him to die - I .Jcarce can talce it in: 
That on the Crodd, my burden gladLy bearing, He bled and died to talce away my Jin: 
Refrain 
When Chrut .Jha!L come with dhout ofaccLatnation And talce me honu- whaljoy .JhaLLfilL 1ny heart! 
Then .JhaL! I bow in hwnbfe adoration, And there procLainz, nzy God how great Thou art! 
Refrain 
 
TRIBUTES ....................... ..................... .............. . .... . .. .. ...... ......................................... DR. PRESTON W . WILLIAMS I l Pre.Jtding Prelate, Sixth EpucopaL Dutrict AME Church Chancef/01; Morru Brown CoLLege 
 
HONORABLE WILLIAM jOHNSON 
64th Mayor of Roche.1te1; New Yorlc 
 
HONORABLE MARVIN ARRI NGTO N . SR. 
Ju~qe, Fulton County Superior Court 
SOLO ............... ....................... .. .... . ... ............. .. .... .. ... .................................. .. ...... ........ ........ ...... .. HENRY PORTER 
T Rl BUTES .. . ..... ...... ........... .... ... . .... ... .. .. .. ..... .. ... ... .... .. .. .. . ..... ... .. .... ........ . .. .. ... ... .... DAV!D JULIAN HODGES. Brother 
VIRGIL ART H UR TAFT HODGES. Ill. Son 
SOLO .... . .... . .............. ... ..................... .... ..... ... ............... . ... .. .......... .. .... ...... ... ....... .. ..... ... ........... ..... .... BERNI.CE HOGAN HALL 
THE EULOGY. ...... ............ . ... ..... .... ............. .............. . .... ... ........... ................THE REVEREND JAMES E. F. LAWRENCE Retired Pre.JlJing ELJet; 1dt EpucopaL Dutrict 
African Methodut Epi.JcopaL Church, ALbany NY. 
THE PRAYER OF SUPPLICATION ... . ..... .. ... .. .... .. . .... .. . .. ... ... ... ..... ... .. ................................ .THE REVEREND THOMAS L. BESS 
SELECTlON ..................... ... ................... ..... .... ...... ......... ... GOING TO SEE THE KING. ALlen TempLeAME Church Choir 
THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ... ... ... .. .. ... ......... ..... ... .. . ...... . ...................... ......... ............... ..................TRUSTEE BOARD AND 
ALLEN TEMPLE CHURCH FAMILY, HenryAdamJ 
THE REMARKS ....... ... ........................... .. ........................ .......... ...... ... ............. ....MURRAY BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME 
THE RECESSIONAL .. .......... .......... .. ........ .... .... ... .... .... ............... ... .... ..... ...... ............. ... ... ... ......... FANFARE FOR THE COMMON MAN 
INTER_MENT 
South- View Cemetery 
 
REPAST 
The ALLen Temple AME Church FanziLy e:r:tendd an invitation to the Hodge.J famiLy and it.J friendlt to join uJ ina repcut in the FeLLowdhip Half adjacent to the church .JancutuaryfoLLo;~,in,q the interment. 
 
  I MADE A WISH 
AND YOU CAME THROUGH .... 
WtJrd,J of LoPe frmn Verna J McNeiL HodgeJ to the Man of her Dreatn.J 
At a girL growing up in coac1taL CaroLina, at a time when opportunitiedfor giru who Looked Like me were .:~evereLy Limited in the worLd at Large, I aLway.:~ had the God-given freedom to dreanz. To wi_1h. To hope. And, of COUI"'de, I aLway.:~ wuhed for a Prince 
Charnzu~q who wouLd not onLy join me in my que.:~t to agitate for faLLfreedOtn for our people, bat who wouLd af.:~o provwe for nze a beautifuLfatnify, a .:~ecure and Loving home, and a Life partner.:~hip with .:Jotneone who woufJ pamper and fope me for no other reac1on 
except that I Wad me. 
I made that wuh, and it canu true. You, Virgil HaLL Hodge.:~, my dear hu..1band, came through in a manner .:10 .:~plendw, do wonderfuL, do .:~oulfuLLy .:~atufying that I know, without a 
doubt, that you were a ble.:~ding to me fronz God. 
Ye.:~, we had tnonunt.:J of de.:~pair. Tinzed of uncertainty. Of unbeLievable Wdd. But oh, how you catne through when I needed you nw.:~t, when our dear angeL Ruth went away dO duddenLy. How wue and .:Jtrong and con~forting you were to tne daring that time. SadLy, tnany coupled don't durPiPe the Wdd of a chi/J, but ,~,e-becallde of you, tny dear- we not onLy .:JurviPed, we continued to fope Life and each other, and wefound way.:~ to tnake Ruth d Life to have mattered. You dw 
that tnore than I, and it nzade me fope you 
more. 
I wiLL nzu.:~ you, my darLuzg hlldband. Word.:~ don't conu eac1y to nzej you know that. But pfeac1e know that ac1 I .:~it here today, durrounded by do nzany people who re.:~pect and LoPe you, pfeac1e know that eiJen ac1 tny heart u breakin.q oper the Lo.:~d of your bodiLy pre.:~ence, 1ny .:~pirit u agLow with happine.:Jd and prwe for .:~uch a wonde1fa! hotnecotning tuf you are receit,ing. And tny heart, howe~Jer burdened by grief, i1 at the dame tinze ble.:~.:~ed by memoried ofa Life .:10 fiLled with treac1ure.:1 that I cannot natne thetn aLL. You gave thu Liufe girL from CaroLina inventive r01nantic ge.:~tare.1, favuh trip.:~ abroad, nuzteriaL cotnfort.:~, a ru pectfuL place in the conunwzity, and a famiLy L~fe fiLled with 
inteLLigence, creatiPity, Love and LoyaLty. 
For aLL of tha0 and for dO tnuch tnore, I .:Jay to you, my dear .:~weet hu.Jband, that ju.Jt ac1 Vaughan and Eck.:~tine do beautifuLLy dang to each other year.:~ ago, I .:~ay to you, with aLL my heart: ~1'LL be Wiling you... with a Wile thatd true...a!way.:~." 
 Lm,e, Verna Jean 
 
   .liKE EVERYONE , VIRGIL'S LIFE HAD ITS UPS AND DOWNS. IN 1997, HE AND VERNA, 
 
VIRGIL A.T AND DAVID ALONG WITH THEIR EXTENDED FAMILY AND FRIENDS 
 
FACED ONE OF THE GREATEST TRAGEDIES IMAGINABLE, THE LOSS OF HIS ONLY 
 
DAUGHTER RUTH - ERCILE LETITIA HODGES (RUTH-E), WHO DIED AT THE YOUNG 
 
AGE OF 24 IN A HORRIFIC AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. WHILE DEALING WITH THE 
 
ENORMOUS GRIEF AND LOSS, VIRGIL AND VERNA DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING 
 
EXTRAORDINARY. 
 
IN REMEMBRANCE OF RUTH-E. THEY ESTABLISHED A 
 
SCHOLARSHIP IN HER NAME AT SPELMAN COLLEGE. EACH YEAR, THEY HAVE 
 
AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS TO SPELMAN STUDENTS WHO BEST EXEMPLIFY HER 
 
SPIRIT AND LEGACY. 
 
RUTH-E WAS A MAGNA CUM LAUDE GRADUATE OF THE SPELMAN INTERNATIONAL 
STUDIES PROGRAM AND WENT ON TO BE ONE OF ONLY 12 SCHOLARS ANNUALLY 
ADMITTED TO GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY AS A WOODROW WILSON 
FELLOW. THAT IS THE FAST TRACK TO A CAREER AT THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF 
STATE. 
 
RUTH-E HAD COMPLETED HER WOODROW WILSON STUDIES AND WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO HER FIRST DIPLOMATIC POST IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THERE WAS WIDE AGREEMENT THAT SHE WAS DESTINED FOR A STELLAR CAREER AT STATE AND HER LOSS WAS A GREAT TRAGEDY. 
AT THE TIME OF HER PASSING, OR. RICHARD HOPE, VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF THE WOODROW WILSON FELLOWSHIP FOUNDATION COMMENTED. RUTH-E "CLEARLY WOULD HAVE BEEN AN AMBASSADOR. . .SHE WAS TRULY OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST." SO THE LOSS OF RUTH-E WAS A TRAGEDY NOT ONLY TO HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS . BUT ALSO A GREAT LOSS TO THE NATION. 
Dr. Rimani Keuey-Rogerd, Ruth-Ed coLlege roonzate from SpeLnzan daiJ: 
It hac:~ been an honor to ''dhare "Daddy Virg with do nzanyfriendd over the yeard. Ruth-E paved the way for otherd to get to know how eMy it id to love him! He couLd go from a meeting with Mandefa, to a Morrid Brown fundraider, to braindtorming with the Boule~ to a FaLcon 
footbaLL game, to proviJing dervice in SummerhiLL Nothing and no one Wad too big or too 
.1maLLfor my ''decond dad" to Jprinlcle hid wudom and encouragement on. Through aLL of the heartache, I can be nothing butjoyfuLfor we are truthfully and without he..1itation able to day, it i1 weLL! A.1 Rath-E i1 hum1nin_9 ''A.nd when Life '.1 race if won, thy noble work if done... '~ dancing with herfather a.9ain. 
BUT THROUGH THE HEARTBREAK AND TEARS , VIRGIL AND VERNA TURNED THIS INCALCULABLE LOSS INTO A UNIQlJE OPPORTUNITY TO DO GOOD FOR OTHERS AND THE NATION BY GIVING DESERVING YOUNGSTERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PICK UP THE TORCH AND CONTINUE THE WORK THAT RUTH-E HAD STARTED. THAT PRINCIPLE OF HELPING OTHERS IS THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE OF VIRGIL'S FAMILY. AND HE WAS SIMPLY STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS WHO CAME 
 
 DOWN TO THE LAST METICULOUS DETAIL HE<';, L SIMPLY BECAUSE HE BELIEVED SO DEEPLY IN THOSE CAUSES. AND HE ALSO BELIEVED IN THE TALENTS AND CAPACITY OF THE PEOPLE HE RECRUITED. EVEN WHEN THEY MAY HAVE HAD THEIR OWN SELF-DOUBTS. HE HELPED PEOPLE BE THE BEST THEY COULD BE . IT WAS AN ORDAINED GIFT AND BEAUTIFUL THING TO BEHOLD. 
HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING WAS IN ORDER WHETHER IT WAS A PROGRAM AT A LABOR 
CONFERENCE , THE VOTER REGISTRATION EFFORTS FOR THE 2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OR THE BEAUTIFUL 
DETAILS OF THE DREAM HOME IN ATLANTA HE AND HIS WIFE VERNA CREATED AND HAVE PUT TO GREAT USE AS A GATHERING PLACE FOR THEIR EXPANDING CIRCLE OF FRIENDS AND EXTENDED FAMILY. 
A MODEL FOR US ALL, HE WAS A DEVOTED HUSBAND TO VERNA MCNEIL HODGES AND A LOVING FATHER TO VIRGIL ARTHUR TAFT HODGES, III AND THE LATE RUTH-ERCILE LETITIA HODGES. HE LEAVES A LEGACY OF 
HUMBLE TRIUMPH AND UNTIRING SERVICE TO THE THINGS HE CHERISHED MOST, HIS CHURCH. MORRIS BROWN COLLEGE, CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS, PROGRESSIVE POLITICS, SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE , AND OF COURSE , TO HIS COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS. AND FAMILY. 
SO WE GATHER TODAY AT ALLEN TEMPLE AME CHURCH IN LOVING TRIBUTE TO THAT IRREPRESSIBLE SPIRIT THAT WAS VIRGIL HALL HODGES AND IN THANKFULNESS FOR A LIFE WELL-LIVED. WE SHALL NEVER FORGET HIS WINNING WAYS ... THAT WINNING SMILE ... AND THAT MAGNANIMOUS LAUGH THAT WAS HIS ALONE. HE LIFTED OUR SPIRITS AND MADE US KNOW THAT WE WERE PUT ON THIS EARTH TO NEVER GIVE UP AND NEVER GIVE IN. lF YOU BELIEVE IN IT, GO FOR IT, AND HAVE FUN ALONG THE WAY. VIRGIL DID IT ALL WITH GREAT GUSTO AND GREAT LOVE . AND IN RETURN . WE LOVED HIM BACK. SO TO YOU. DEAR VIRGIL. WE MEET HERE FOR A LOVING FAREWELL , UNTIL THAT DAY WHEN WE WHO'VE RUN THE RACE YOU'VE RUN , AND STAYED THE COURSE YOU'VE STAYED, GATHER AT THE WELCOME TABLE PREPARED BY THE MASTER FOR US ALL. GOOD NIGHT, DEAR VIRG , UNTIL THAT GREAT GETTIN ' UP MORNING! 
 
 PALLBEARERS 
DARRYL BERRY BURNS GUILLAUME 
MATT HARTNETT MONOIBO KELSEY 
SAM LARKIN GREGORY ROGERS 
ALTON THREATS DELMAR WHITTINGTON 
HONORARY PALLBEARERS 
RICHARD ALLEN CLASSIC GROUP 
Fred CLeveLand LoweLL Dicker.Jon Robert E. Jo/m,Jon, J.D. 
Ernie Jone._1 
Robert aSnwke H Jone.t 
Richard Morwa J(ef.Jey, Ph.D Erne,tt O,q!e.Jhy Henry Porter 
HONORABLE MARVIN ARRINGTON , SR. RICHARD BYRD MILTON CLARK 
BOB GREENFIELD MARlON KENNEDY GLENFIELD KNIGHT 
LEVANDER LILLY OR. STANLEY PRITCHETT 
BARRY SAMPLE SONNY WALKER OR. WALTER YOUNG 
FLOWE RB EARE RS 
REV SHEILA GUILLAUME OR. RIBA C. KELSEY- HARRIS 
DEBORAH HOUSTON DAWN WARD ADlA BERRY 
DR. RIMANI C. KELSEY- ROGERS VICKI STEPHENS 
HONORARY FLOWERBEARERS 
DARLENE WHITTINGTON ATLANTA CHAPTER OF THE LINKS , INC 
MORRIS BROWN COLLEGE CLASS OF 1958 
 
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
Wordd truLyfaLL tthort ofexpruding the outpouring o_fyour Love and concern given to 1M duri1ig the iLLnedd, pLanning and celebration ofthe L~fe ofour Loved one. Your prayerd, generodity, care and concern have touched our heartJ, co1nforted our JouiJ and eraJed our pain. Your Love and 
conzpaJdion wiLL be forever treadured. 
Peace and Bfedc1ing, The FamiLy of VirgiL HaLL Hodged 
SPECIAL THANKS 
DR. TIMOTHY A. YOUNG 
DR. WILLiAM H. CLEVELAND 
DR. ANTHONY KIMANI 
MS. CYNTHIA QjARCOO 
Kadan H01necare 
DR. GABRIEL MAFUKA 
Mayo CLinic 
MS. PHOEBE HOLSTON 
SpeciaL Ad1ninL~1trative AJdutant 
PIEDMONT HEART INSTITUTE 
Dr. Niral' Y RavaL Dr ViCtor Corrigan 
PIEDMONT ATLANTA HEART FAILURE CENTER 
DaviJ PatriCk MS, NP-C Becky Radke, MS, NP-C Monica Aerdtin, RJY; MS, NP-C 
Jan FLoyd, RN BSN CLiniCaL Superl'i.Jor Jeanette Gadton, ~ MS~ APRN; BC 
MU RRAY BROTH ERS CASCA DE C HAr EL (404) 349-3000 
DARRY L ALLEN'S PLU S 404.755.0965 
 
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