Arrington Junior Hodgson

OBITUARY OF ARRINGTON JUNIOR "AJ" HODGSON

Arrington Junior Hodgson, fondly known as "AJ", was born on December 2, 1981 in Bluefields, Nicaragua.

Arrington moved to the United States at the age of 10 and resided in Silver Springs, Maryland. He attended T.C. Williams High School; where he was actively involved in several sports; including football, weight-lifting and baseball. He considered pursuing a baseball career, but turned to the military, instead.

In September, 2000 he enlisted in the United States Air Force. While serving, he did two tours of duty in the Middle East, under Operation Iraqi Freedom.

On September 24, 2001 (while he was stationed at Nellis AFB), he met Gina Clark of Los Angeles, California. They were married on January 19, 2002

While awaiting the birth of his son, Arrington decided to leave the military to spend more time with his family. He was honorably discharged on September 20, 2004 – just one day before the birth of Jayden Andre Hodgson, their only child.
AJ, on discharge from the military, considered a range of career options; including law enforcement. Unfortunately, it was discovered that his heart was failing. On December 15, 2006 AJ received a heart transplant. He told everyone he had a second birthday and a second chance at life.

After a lengthy recovery, he went to Arlington, Texas (staying with his sister's family), while he pursued his alternate career choice. He had a passion for cutting hair and was great at it. He returned from Texas, with his barber's license from Texas. He then obtained his barber's license for Nevada. He began his new career at Cheyenne Square Barbershop, where he had been a long-time customer. AJ's ultimate career goal was to open his own shop in Los Angeles, California and to mentor his younger brother and his wife's younger cousin; both of whom wanted to follow in his footsteps.

Although AJ did not pursue a career as a professional baseball player, he managed to give all of those talents to Jayden. He coached the Yankees of Lone Mountain Little League from 2010 – 2011. What started as a father's favor to his son became a love of coaching children that extended to each and every child who wanted to play the game. Each of the boys on the team held a special place in his heart.

In his last days, he could be found in the shop cutting hair and on the baseball field and batting cages with his son. He will be remembered as a good father, good husband, good barber, good coach and just a good person.

He leaves to mourn his wife, Gina Clark-Hodgson; his son, Jayden Hodgson; his parents, Dean Arrington Hodgson and Lidia Aguilar; his siblings, Yvette Hodgson, Raquel DeLeon (Jessie DeLeon), Loveth Hodgson (Shontel Hodgson), Andy Hodgson and Danvor Hodgson; mother-in-law, Yolanda Duvernay; sister-in-laws, Karla Clark and Kristen Clark; brother-in-law, Aaron Blount (Desirae Blount); nieces and nephews, Kaylan Tanner, Dillon DeLeon, Nuhani Hodgson, Austin Blount, Sabrina Tanner, Joel DeLeon, Jessica DeLeon and Briana Blount.

Arrangements under the direction of Palm Cheyenne Mortuary, Las Vegas, NV.