Ila Sheila (Hodges) Cecil

Mrs. Ila Sheila Hodges Cecil, age 73 of Mount Airy, passed away on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at the Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson surrounded by her loving family. Mrs. Cecil was born on November 30, 1952, in Raleigh County, West Virginia to the late Walter and Grace Garretson Hodges. Ila retired from Cooke Medical and spent her life creating beauty by decorating homes, styling hair, and helping to plan weddings. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. Her memory will be treasured by those who knew and loved her. Surviving is her sons and daughters-in-law, Brad Dowell and Stephanie, Josh Dowell and Tara; step-daughter and son-in-law, Tiffany Cecil Bullins and Reverend Scotty Bullins; grandchild, Emma Dowell; step-granddaughter, Gracie Bullins; sisters, Lula “Lupe” Dickerson, Lolita Whitaker; Rebecca “Becky” Hodges; brother, Joe “Pepe” Salgado, sister-in-law, Judy Salgado; along special nieces whom she loved as her own; and many dear friends across the world. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Cecil was preceded in death by her husband, Garrett Jefferson “Jay” Cecil, Jr.; sisters, Billie-Jean Hodges, Carol Simmons, Samona “Monie” Hodges, Delfina “Dell” Theimer, Margaret McMillian; brothers, Serafine “ Nanny” Salgado, and Francisco “Frankie” Salgado. A celebration of life service will be held on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Community Baptist Church with Reverend Bradley Quesinberry and Reverend Scotty Bullins officiating. No formal visitation will be held at this time. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, P.O. Box 326, Dobson, North Carolina 27030. Moody Funeral Services in Mount Airy has been entrusted with the arrangements.