Judge William Hodges

1929 - 2017

Judge William Hodges

Norfolk - Judge William Howard Hodges passed away on Thursday, September 14, 2017. He was born in the Hickory section of Chesapeake, Virginia, on April 18, 1929, a son of the late John Arthur Hodges and Lela Old Hodges.

Judge Hodges is survived by his wife, Betty Darden Hodges; a brother, H. Leon Hodges; two daughters, Susan Hodges Oldfield and Carol Hodges Moore (David); a step-daughter, Betty Driver McCaa (Jim); four grandchildren, William Thomas Moore (Aubrey), Charles Belding Oldfield, V, Mallory Oldfield Wooten (Clay), and Laura Cox Moore; two great-grandsons, Thomas Hodges Moore and Carver William Wooten.

Judge Hodges was graduated from Great Bridge High School, received his Bachelor's degree from Randolph-Macon College in 1951 and Juris Doctor degree from Washington and Lee University in 1956. He was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity while attending Randolph-Macon and a veteran of the United States Coast Guard, serving from 1951-1953.

Judge Hodges practiced law in Norfolk and Chesapeake with the firm Kellam & Kellam, later Kellam, Pickrell, Lawler, Hodges & Kellam. In 1962, he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 49th District of Chesapeake. After serving two successive terms, he was elected to the Virginia State Senate, representing the 3rd District, in 1966. In 1972, Judge Hodges was elected a Judge of the First Judicial Circuit of Virginia by the General Assembly, serving the City of Chesapeake and, upon creation of the Court of Appeals of Virginia by the General Assembly in 1985, was elected by the legislature as one among the ten original members of that Court. He served the Appellate Court as an active member until 1989 and, upon retirement, as a senior judge of that Court.

Judge Hodges served as a member and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the People's Bank of Chesapeake from its inception, a member of the Board of the former Cenit Bank, the Board of Trustees of his alma mater, Randolph-Macon College, vice-chairman of the Virginia Crime Commission and a Trustee of the Beazley Foundation, Inc.

In 1981, Judge Hodges was named First Citizen of the City of Chesapeake, and, in 1983, received the Commendation Award from the Chesapeake Chamber of Commerce in recognition of his community service. In 1993, he was again honored by the Chamber for his many contributions to the City.

The family would like to express deep appreciation to the staff of Harbor's Edge Skilled Nursing Facility for their care of Judge Hodges over the last ten years and his physician, Dr. Charles Lisner, for his competent and dedicated service and personal friendship spanning three decades.

A memorial service to honor Judge Hodges will be conducted by The Reverend Doctor Frank Holley on Thursday, September 21, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at Oak Grove United Methodist Church, followed by a reception with family and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Randolph Macon College or Oak Grove Methodist Church. Condolences may be offered to the family at:

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