Sue Jo Hodges

Sue Jo Carnahan Hodges passed peacefully in the early morning hours of Sunday, September 28, surrounded by loving caregivers. Born in Waco, Texas and raised in Irving, Texas, Sue was a devoted wife and mother who lived out her dream of being a homemaker.

Sue graduated from Irving High School in 1954 and attended North Texas State University for a couple of years before transferring to Texas Tech University in 1956. It was there that she met Jim Hodges on her first Sunday in Lubbock as she walked to church. Come to find out, they were from the same hometown and graduated from the same high school but had never met. Soon, they were engaged and in August of 1958, Jim secured a job in Huntsville, Alabama while Sue went back to Irving to work and plan the wedding. They were married on December 27, 1958, and came directly to Huntsville where they established their home and raised their three daughters. Sue and Jim were married for 64 years until his death.

When Jim and Sue first moved to Huntsville, Sue was a substitute teacher until their first daughter was born. After that, she lived out her dream of being a stay-at-home wife and mother. Through the years, she served at the churches where she and Jim were members as a Nursery Coordinator and various committees. When they joined Whitesburg Baptist Church in 1977, she began teaching second grade Sunday School. She also enjoyed Vacation Bible School every year and loved teaching the children about Jesus.

One of Sue's legacies is her chocolate chip cookies. If you were new to the neighborhood, had a new baby, a death in the family, or in her new class for second grade Sunday School, you received a plate full of fresh chocolate chip cookies delivered right to your door. Even for her daughters and their friends, there were always cookies ready to be enjoyed if you stopped by the house.

Sue was preceded in death by her parents, William Alfred Carnahan and Christine Young Carnahan; her husband, James Carl Hodges, Jr.; her sister and brother-in-law, Harold and Angie Vail and their son, Darrell. She is survived by her daughters, Julie Peace (Ty), Janice Fain (John) and Jennifer Whitman (David); eight grandchildren, Emily Macher (Thomas), Laura Thompson (Logan), Nathan Peace, Taylor Plott (Corey), Bryan Plott (Morgan), Jessica Fain, Elizabeth Curtis (Trey) and Jarrett Whitman; and three great-grandchildren, Audra Thompson, Graham Plott, and Carolynn Macher.

The family would like to thank the Hospice Nurses from Compassus, and the Staff and Caregivers, especially Giselle, at Anetta's Home LLC as they took such wonderful care of Sue throughout the past year.

Visitation only will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday, October 3, at the Whitesburg Baptist Church South Campus Chapel. There will be a private graveside service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Compassus Living Foundation (https://compassuslivingfoundation.org/) or to Whitesburg Baptist Church Master Campus Plan (https://whitesburgbaptist.org/about/master-campus-plan/).