Deacon Percy London Hodges was born on November 10, 1948 in Candler County, Metter, Georgia to the late Cother Lee and Juanita Byrd Hodges. On September 2, 2026, an angel of mercy slipped softly into his room at East Georgia Regional Medical Center, and quietly led his spirit away to paradise to ease his pain and suffering from an extended illness.

He received his formal education at Byrd Junior School in Pulaski, Georgia before moving to Candler County Training School/Lillian Street High School, where he was a member of the Class of 1966. He began his college education at Georgia Southern College, and later transferred to Fort Valley State College, where he was a member of the graduating Class of 1970, earning a Business Administration degree. After completing his education at Fort Valley, he attended and graduated from Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in Atlanta, Georgia.

During his lifetime, he supported his parents in their professional endeavors by earning several licensed certifications. Percy was a Licensed Funeral Director and Mortician, a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, and a Licensed Insurance Agent. He used these licenses to support his family when they opened Pleasant View Nursing Home and Hodges Funeral Home. Later, Percy opened and operated Hodges Communications, providing low-cost saving installation services to active-duty servicemen. In addition, he was instrumental in his family’s acquisition of Reno Tapley Mortuary in Swainsboro, Georgia and Harper’s Funeral Home in Claxton, Georgia. Percy also played a significant role in the operation of Hodges Farms Enterprises.

As a child Percy joined Mt. Pisgah Primitive Baptist Church. Over the years, he served in many capacities as an Usher, Choir Member, and a Deacon. Later, he transferred his membership to Thankful Missionary Baptist Church to worship with his family as a unit. After his family was grown, he returned to Mt. Pisgah, where he served faithfully until he became ill.

Percy was a member of many civic and professional organizations over the years. Some of his affiliations included: lifetime member of NAACP, Esquire XIII Fraternity, Inc., and Swainsboro Optimist Club. Percy served as State President of Georgia Funeral Service Practitioners Association, and he was also a member of National Funeral Directors & Mortician’s Association, Inc.

He was joined in Holy Matrimony on October 11, 1969 to Eula Faye Tillman, and they were married for fifty-six years. To this union, three daughters were born: Yvonne, YLonne and MaLinda.

Percy was preceded in death by his parents, Cother Lee and Juanita B. Hodges; his sister, Dr. Malinda Hodges White; and his grandson, Quincy London Hall.

Deacon Percy Hodges leaves the following loved ones to cherish many fond memories: his wife, Eula F. Hodges of Metter, Georgia; three daughters: Yvonne Hodges Copeland (John) of Winston, Georgia, YLonne Hodges Lloyd (Scott) of Metter, Georgia, and MaLinda Hodges Gonzalez (Jose) of Greensboro, North Carolina; one son: Timothy B. Hodges of Stanford, Connecticut; two sisters: Yvonne Hodges of Metter, Georgia and Ommie Ruffin of Flint, Michigan; nine grandchildren: John P. Copeland III, Ashton J. Copeland, Joshua A. Copeland, Gabriel C. Hall, Cameron J. Gonzalez, Cayden J. Gonzalez, Hannah M. Hodges, Lindsay M. Hodges, and Jaden M. Hodges; two aunts: Bearneas Lanier of Metter, Georgia and Luretha Tillman of Claxton, Georgia; one sister-in-law: Gertie Johnson of Savannah, Georgia; a special nephew, Bilal White of Metter, Georgia; devoted friends and brothers: Lucious Felder of Stone Mountain, Georgia, Hubert West of Montezuma, Georgia, Grady McCray of Metter, Georgia, and Curtis Tillman of Fairburn, Georgia; close cousins: Faye and Alton West of Metter, Georgia, Danny Parrish and Novella Parrish, both of Atlanta, Georgia; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.