Hodges Alvin Lewis was born on November 17, 1941 at his family home in Eatonton, Georgia.
He passed away on December 10, 2023 at Buckingham South in Savannah, Georgia where he had lived for many years after a stroke in 2005. He often referred to Buckingham South as his home away from home and was loved by all.
Hodges was predeceased by his parents, Kathryn Hodges Lewis and Alvin Lewis, and his sister, Janet Lewis West. He is survived by his sister, Jo Ann Lewis Keller (John) of Atlanta and his brother, Wallda Lon Lewis (Joy) of St. Simons, six nieces and nephews, and eight great nieces and nephews plus many cousins. He was very proud of his family.
His educational years were in the schools of Putnam County graduating in 1959, having served as the Senior Class President. He enjoyed competing in Literary District Meets in music and typing and was always proud of the many teachers that taught and coached him. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1963 with majors in French and English and continued on to Clemson where he received his Master's degree. He taught school in Cleveland, Tennessee and Irmo High School near Columbia, South Carolina for 30 years until his retirement in 1996. He taught Senior English and particularly enjoyed coaching the Irmo Academic Quiz Team, which won three national championships at the University of Miami in 1986 and Pepperdine University in Malibu, California in 2001 and 2002. At that time, the Irmo High School team was the only team in the United States to have won three national championships as well as the only team to have won back to back championships. He loved his teaching years and received many awards. He often heard from the many students he taught over the years.
Hodges was a member of the First Methodist Church in Eatonton where he sang in the choir and enjoyed the relationships with older members that had taught him in Sunday School. He was known for making delicious cheese straws that he shared with many family and friends, even making them for his nephew’s wedding reception. He was also very generous and gave silver dollars to his eight great nieces and nephews each year for Christmas.
A graveside service will be held Sunday, January 7, 2024 at 1:00 at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Eatonton, Georgia.
If you would like to honor Hodges’s memory, please consider a donation to Buckingham South, 5450 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA 31405; St. Paul’s Rockville Church, 130 Long Shoals Road, Eatonton, GA 31024; or Eatonton First Methodist Church, 103 W Magnolia Street, Eatonton, GA 31024.
