Mr. William James ("Bill") Hodges

Reflections of a Life Well-Lived

William James Hodges was born on October 26, 1946, to the proud parents of Green and Ruby Hodges in Aberdeen, Mississippi. The family relocated to St. Louis, Missouri when William was a young child. 

William spent his childhood in St. Louis and attended St. Louis Public Schools. He attended Vashon High School during his first two years and completed his last two years at Beaumont High School where he received his high school diploma. Upon graduating from Beaumont High School, William was drafted in the United States Army in 1966 and served until 1969, in which 12 of those months were spent fighting in the Vietnam War. 

William joined the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department in 1969 where he served as a Police Officer for 10 years. While working as a Police Officer, he attended Forest Park Community College where he received an Associate degree in Applied Sciences in 1973. William continued his education at the University of Missouri in St. Louis, Missouri, (UMSL) where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in the Administration of Justice in 1976.

To further his career, William left the St. Louis Police Department and joined the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in 1979. Throughout his DEA career, he started as a Special Agent and went up the ranks to a Supervisory Special Agent. He was promoted to Resident Agent in Charge of DEA overseeing Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois before retiring in 2003.     

William was united in holy matrimony to the love of his life, Sharon Austin, December 21, 1974. The love they shared mimicked the words of their song, “When I’m With You,” by Tony Terry.  To their union, two beautiful children were born: Yalonda and Brian Hodges. William was an amazing man who loved his wife and children.  He enjoyed taking his children to their sport events and was involved with their school activities. 

In August of 2000, William was blessed with a grandson, Kinyon Hodges (Brian’s son). He loved spending quality time with his grandson and teaching him new things. He enjoyed attending his school functions and sport activities. He always looked forward to watching/attending his grandson’s basketball games at Cape Central High School, Three Rivers Community College and currently Eastern Illinois University (EIU) until he passed away. William liked watching westerns, playing Solitaire on his computer, listening to music and watching his favorite movies over and over again. 

William was a devoted husband, and a loving father and grandfather (Papa). He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruby and Green; his daughter, Yalonda Marie Hodges; his sisters, Marilyn Davis, Ruth Hodges, Ruby Wilkes (Bill), and Annie Betts (Ollie); brother, Waverly Hodges; brother-in-law, Willie Saddler; step-mother, Helen Hodges; and step-sister, Thelma Hawkins. 

He leaves to cherish his loving memories to his wife, Sharon Hodges; son, Brian Hodges; grandson, Kinyon Hodges; his siblings, Ella Mae Saddler and Algie (Gwen) Hodges; three half-brothers Roger, Nelson, and Nathaniel Hodges; and a host of relatives and friends, especially Kaleisha (KeKe) Walker, who was like a daughter to him; and Marvin Watson, his life-long friend who was with him every step of the way.

William was a believer in Jesus Christ and knew Him as his Savior. One of William’s favorite sayings was “God has taken care of me all of my life.”   

Contributions may be made in memory of William Hodges to the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge | 4207 Lindell Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63108 | 314-286-8150

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