Spencer Richardson Hodges, Jr.

Spencer Richardson Hodges, Jr., passed away on September 7, 2025 after years of declining health. He was born on September 13, 1938, in Retz, Mathews County, Virginia, the only child of Frances Forrest and Spencer R. Hodges. As a child he was called Bos’n by his father’s family and Brother by his mother’s family; both names followed him throughout his life.

He was a lifelong resident of Mathews County growing up on the East River which he loved; trapping muskrats, fishing, swimming and navigating the waterways. After graduating from high school and holding a variety of jobs, he eventually became a master plumber. He also was Deputy Sheriff during the years his father served as Sheriff. Upon his father’s death in 1973, Spencer became Sheriff and served Mathews County through 1979. After leaving the position of Sheriff, Spencer served as a local magistrate.

In 1986, Spencer fulfilled a lifelong dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail from Georgia through Maine. Spencer also served as a Boy Scout leader during the time his two grandsons were scouts with each of them earning the rank of Eagle Scout.

During the late 80’s to the early 90’s, Spencer was the owner of Hodges Building Supply. Throughout his adult life, he was an entrepreneur; purchasing, renovating, and selling houses before house flipping was popular. Once fully retired he would spend mornings at M&M with other retirees, which they named “The Coffee Club,” reminiscing about the “good old days” in Mathews County. If anyone needed help with a task, he was a phone call away.

Spencer had a lifelong love of gardening and enjoyed sharing his harvest with friends in the community. His gardens were always pristine. Each January he would begin scouring the seed catalogs, deciding what he would plant for that year.

Spencer was a lifelong member of Westville Christian Church, Mathews, VA. In his younger life he was an active member of Mathews Volunteer Fire Department, serving a term as Chief and later became an Honorary Member. He was also a member of the Lions Club before his health deteriorated.

Spencer is survived by his wife of 46 years, Linda Gerhold Hodges, his children, Patricia K. Hodges, James Richardson Hodges (Susan), and Katherine F. Hodges; his grandchildren, Lauren Jade, James Richardson, Jr., Spencer Allen and Heather Nicole; and three great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister-in-law and brothers-in-law, Susan and Mike Jenkins, Bill Gerhold and Richard Gerhold and numerous nieces and nephews who adored him. Spencer always enjoyed showing them how to fish, open oysters and crab.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at 11:00 a.m., at Mathews Baptist Church, Hudgins, Virginia, with a reception to follow in the church fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, 799 Washington Street, P.O. Box 807, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425 or Mathews Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 1130, Mathews, VA 23109.