Evelyn Hodges

May 10, 1929 – Feb. 17, 2016

McCOMB — Services for Evelyn “Pee Wee” Hodges, 86, who died peacefully Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016, at Merit Health Center in Brandon and took her place in Heaven, will be 1 p.m. Monday at Jones Funeral Home Chapel in McComb with the Rev. J.L. Slay, the Rev. Andy White and the Rev. Chris Johns officiating.

Burial will follow at Moaks Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Summit under the direction of Jones Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time Monday at the funeral home.

Mrs. Hodges was born May 10, 1929, in Franklin County, the daughter of Tannie and Gladys Matthews.

She was raised in southwest Mississippi and moved to Natchez when she married the love of her life Grady E. Hodges. She loved Natchez, especially the history and old homes, and going to the annual hot air balloon races on the bluff.

For more than 40 years, Evelyn worked in retail, eventually becoming known as “The Hallmark Lady” to a number of Natchez residents. As a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of Natchez, she loved the Lord and her favorite hymn was “Amazing Grace.” A truly wonderful cook, her best dish was tomato gravy and biscuits. She loved visiting with and talking to her three grandchildren, Brittany, Brandy and James, who she adored so much. She loved animals, especially playing with her grandson James’ German shepherd, Astro.

Mrs. Hodges was preceded in death by her husband; one daughter, Sharee Hodges Levingston and husband, Ken Levingston; her parents; one brother, Bernard Matthews; one sister, Doris Adams; and one daughter-in-law, Dale Hodges.

Survivors include one son, Gary E. Hodges and his twin daughters, Brandy and Brittany, of Oklahoma City, Okla.; one grandson, James K. Levingston of Birmingham, Ala.; three sisters-in-law, Jerrie Matthews of Slidell, La., Jimmie P. Sistrunk and husband, Bill, of Brookhaven and Janie Hodges of Vidalia; three brothers, Willis E. Matthews of Jackson, Ronnie Matthews and wife, Judy of Livingston, S.C., and Richard S. Matthews and wife, Georgie, of Fayetteville, N.C.; two sisters, Lynn Wells of McComb and Ellen Johns and husband, Willie, of Mendenhall; and a number of nieces and nephews who she loved so much.

A special thank you to the wonderful staff of Brandon Nursing and Rehabilitation for the excellent loving care provided for “Pee Wee” for the last two and a half years.

Evelyn will be greatly missed, for she touched us all in her own special way.