HATTIESBURG, MISS. - Dr. Wilbur ""Bodie"" Hinton passed away on Monday, June 6, 2016, at his home in Hattiesburg, Miss. Born on January 28, 1921, he was 95.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie Jones Hinton.
He is survived by a large, loving family including daughter, Cindy Bivins (John); sons, Steve and Skip (Barbara); grandchildren, Jeff (Louisa), Henry and Ben Bivins, Elizabeth Hinton Harwell (Russell) and Hal Hinton; great-grandchildren, Libby, Fred and George Harwell, Trey and Noah Hinton, Isa and Lucas Bivins; and many nephews and nieces.
Bodie grew up in Tuscaloosa and received three degrees from the University of Alabama. He married his childhood sweetheart, Margie, while serving in the Army Air Corps. Following World War II, he and Margie lived in Tuscaloosa where he was Director of the Tuscaloosa High School band. In 1956, he accepted the position of Director of Bands for Auburn University, leading the development of one of the nation's most respected marching bands before becoming head of the AU music department in 1969. Bodie and Margie retired from Auburn in 1984, receiving the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award jointly.
Bodie was inducted into the Alabama Music Educators Association Hall of Fame as a member of the inaugural class in 2008, and was a long-time member of the American Bandmasters Association.
On Thursday, June 9, 2016 at 4 p.m. a celebration of Bodie's life will be held at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 100 Church St, Auburn, AL. Visitation will be held at 3 p.m. preceding the service, in the parish hall. There will be a visitation beginning at noon Friday at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park Funeral Home. Burial will be at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 10, 2016, at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park, 5434 Old Birmingham Hwy., Tuscaloosa, AL.
The family is considering a memorial to support the Auburn Alumni Band Scholarship Fund. Details will be forthcoming through the Alumni Band website. Bodie wouldn't want a fuss.
Hulett-Winstead Funeral Home in Hattiesburg, Miss. is in charge of arrangements.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Tuscaloosa News on Jun. 9, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Wilbur Hinton

12 Entries

Barbara Baird Jones

October 17, 2020

I am an Auburn graduate and met Bodie when I arrived there in 1970. I had heard about him through the years from my mom, Anabel Gibbens Baird, who knew him through music, as she had been born in Uniontown and lived in the Tusculoosa area and attended high school there. She was a very gifted vocal musician and instrumental pianist and she thought extremely highly of Bodie and encouraged me to look him up when I got to Auburn. So I did and he warmly welcomed me and I thought he was such a warm and wonderful gentleman. His influence remained in Auburn for many many years.
My mom recently passed away and in going through her possessions, I found a piece of music written by Bodie. Since I have no way of getting that to you, I am mailing it to the Auburn University Director of Bands, Dr. Rick Good. Both Bodie and his wife were well loved at Auburn, but Bodie was greatly admired by one of the best musicians I have ever known, my mom.

Harriet (Conant) Foltinek

July 31, 2016

I had the privilege of having Bodie as my band director through Junior High and High School in Tuscaloosa, and have never forgotten the inspired teaching that he gave us. Those 7:30am practices, August marching sessions on Tuscaloosa streets, and the wonderful music that he helped us to learn. It led me to a career in music, and for many years I wished I had the opportunity to tell him so. Just a few short years ago I reconnected with a fellow THS band member who helped me to find Bodie, so I wrote him a letter thanking him for his guidance and passion. A reply from his son Skip told me that on a subsequent visit to his dad, Bodie thrust my letter into his hand, saying, "This is what makes teaching all worthwhile!" It warmed my heart, and brings tears to my eyes whenever I think of it.
May you rest in peace, Bodie, with your Band of Angels!

Evelyn Hanes Hines

June 13, 2016

A friend recently said to me, "It would be hard to imagine a world without Bodie." I was a music major at Auburn University, begining in the Fall of 1973. Bodie was the head of the music department, and no matter how busy he was, he always took time for anybody at any time. I was fortunate to have crossed a path of such a great, gentle person of noble character and genuine love. Though Bodie's footprints may not be in this world anymore, the imprints he left on so many can never be erased.

Evelyn Hanes Hines

Edwin Walls

June 12, 2016

I remember him as a kind and gentle man who always had time for me when I was a child visiting Goodwin Hall. He was truly an asset to this world.

June 10, 2016

Dear Family,
Dr. Hinton will be remembered for many things, but mostly for the beautiful force of his spirit and love...
Holding you close in our prayers during your time of sorrow..
In Christ's love,
Max and Diane Wilson, Tuscaloosa High School Black Bear band.

Margaret Newcomb

June 10, 2016

He will be sorely missed! He was an inspired educator and musician. I am grateful for being in the Auburn Band under his direction. Offering sincere sympathy,
Margaret Bailey Newcomb
Palmyra, Va

Gail Sledge

June 10, 2016

Mr. Bodie's sweet and kind spirit will be missed on this side of heaven. We loved his family present during his stay at Provision Living. I leave you by saying," Look to the hills which come our health. Our health do come from the Lord".

June 10, 2016

How fortunate for me and my family to have had the pleasure of living next door to a great man and family in Auburn, Alabama, till he left for Mississippi for retirement. He will always be missed. Many prayers for the family, Daniel A. Linton, Jr., Montgomery, Alabama

Mark Stewart

June 9, 2016

My heart felt condolences to family. How fortunate I was to be in the band when he came to Auburn in '56 until I finished in '60 having changed to a music ed major. I always enjoyed and appreciated our contacts until his move to Mississippi. I will forever grateful for his influence.

Dell Ragsdale

June 9, 2016

So sorry to hear of Bodie's passing. He touched the lives of so many and left the world a better place. I am sure he an Doc are organizing a band of angels. My condolences to all. Bodie will be much missed.

Marilyn Bracknell Barnes

June 9, 2016

As I read the post on FB about our dear beloved Bodie's passing, the tears came. It has been many years since I last saw him. He was one of the teachers that I distinctly remember. And one that had tremendous influence on me as I struggled through the teen years. I, like so many others, started band with him In junior high and stayed through high school. As I write this, memories of early band practice, band trips, concert band, friends, his family, half time shows with the Sidney Lanier band from Montgomery at the Blue-Gray game, come flooding through my brain. Those were the days.
As I see his age, I did not realize that he was only 15 years older than me. His wisdom was much more than 15 years older than mine when I was 15.

We are sad when someone we love leaves us, but we know that Bodie is happily playing in Jesus' band now.

June 9, 2016

I am so sad to hear of Bodie's passing. He was a special kind of person. I was in Auburn Marching and Concert bands from Fall, 1957 through Fall of 1960. I am praying for your family during this difficult time.

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