Dr. Thomas Lumpkin Hodges, Jr. was born January 3, 1925, in Douglasville, Georgia to T.L. Hodges, Sr. and Lillian Belle Powell Hodges, and was the first of four brothers, Tom, Bill, Bob and Alex. Tom Hodges grew up in Decatur, Georgia attending Oakmont Elementary and Clairemont Elementary schools, graduating from Decatur High School in 1942, and Emory University, Medical School in 1948. He spent his internship at Piedmont Hospital, and other residencies, generally in internal medicine. Dr. Hodges gained a lot of experience in the ER at Grady Memorial Hospital and in a 3 month Navy assignment at Parris Island Marine Base.
Becoming a doctor may well have been fostered by his paternal grandfather, Dr. Boze Kitchens, of Mitchell, Georgia, and encouraged by his father and mother, and loving wife Carolyn Lewis Hodges. His medical philosophy was steadfast to the goal of “making people well, so they could go home.”
Dr. Hodges married Alice Carolyn Lewis, a student at Agnes Scott, in Decatur on December 23, 1944, at the First Methodist Church. Tom and Carolyn originally met in Cradle Roll of the Church and were destined to be tied for life. Together they raised 6 children, Thomas L. Hodges, III, Carol, David, Richard, Nancy and Phillip. Carolyn obtained her BS in Nursing at Emory.
Tom served in the United States Navy over two periods, serving in several states and Japan after the end of World War II. in Sasebo, Japan on the Island of Kyushu, he served as Medical Officer to the military of as many as 90 ships, eventually rising to the rank of Lt. Commander.
As Navy families would, Tom and Carolyn moved about to many cities, including Decatur, GA, Jacksonville, FL, San Diego, San Jose, CA, Saranac Lake, NY, Marblehead, MA, Philadelphia, PA, Millington, TN before settling in Clarkesville, GA.
The love of travel began before his service career in the Navy. One wonderful trip was in 1947 as he and Carolyn drove across the USA and back in the family Plymouth for a month – not even suffering one flat tire.
In private medical practice, Doctor Hodges lived in Forsyth, Georgia from 1950 to 1953 and is fondly remembered for bringing many babies into this world there. Then Dr. Hodges was recalled to the Navy a second time. After the Navy, Dr. Hodges and Carolyn moved the family to Clarkesville where he joined a small practice with local doctors before starting his own practice, retiring in 1986, but serving Locum Tenens for some time after retirement. Tom and Carolyn continued their love of travel and service, including medical missions to Point Barrow, Alaska and Southwest Indian reservation. Travels included Irkutsk Russia and Algeria with the Rainbow Rovers of Great Britain.
The four brothers spent many summer days in north Georgia at Lake Burton learning to swim and investigating the north Georgia mountains, which led Tom to enjoy hiking, an experience passed on to the children. While at Emory University Tom Hodges joined the swim team and, among many college competitions, earned a Certificate of Merit for 2nd Place in the Southeastern Championship 266-yard freestyle relay competition in 1944.
Tom and one brother learned to fly airplanes, and he and Carolyn enjoyed many hours in small aircraft around the Decatur environs, providing some rides in the clouds to friends and family.
Tom and Carolyn became interested in canoeing in the Georgia lakes and rivers, teaching family members the joy of the lakes and rivers, and taking canoe excursions – even to Canada with son Phillip and friends, taking his father and mother on an amazing trip before T.L. Hodges, Sr died in 1975.
Dr. Tom Hodges and Carolyn Hodges served the community of Clarkesville and north Georgia in numerous ways, including public office. The Honorable Dr. T.L. Hodges was Mayor of Clarkesville after serving on City Council and Carolyn was a member of City Council at a different time. They were devoted to the First Methodist Church in Clarkesville, to the city and the region. Dr. Hodges also devoted time as Scoutmaster of Troop 5, PTA president, Band Boosters president, Habitat for Humanity, literacy tutor, foster parents and hosting numerous foreign students studying in the United States. Dr. Hodges was also one of the original developers of the Helendorf Inn in Helen. In 2003 he was honored as the Grand Marshall of the Clarkesville Christmas Parade. Tom, Carolyn and later Jackie were all active in the Habersham County Historical Society.
Dr. Hodges sang in the Church Choir at the First Methodist Church in Clarkesville, which was a testament to his love of music, fostered by his mother, Lillian and by his wife Carolyn. He played the violin and clarinet, to a very private audience of family, and he inspired his children in music, each having exceptional skills. Tom and Carolyn formed many great friendships across North Georgia while active in square dancing groups.
After his beloved Alice Carolyn Lewis died in June of 2011, Doctor Tom renewed friendship with a lovely widowed lady, Jacquelyn Lovell Durham. The families had previously known each other through the community. They were married on December 20, 2011, and continued a loving relationship until his death. Tom shared with Jackie his love for exploring the world both near and far. Adventures continued, some of these “firsts” for Jackie. They shared wonderful trips to the Bahamas, Alaska, and the Virgin Islands. Square dancing, parasailing, canoeing on the Okefenokee, and rafting down the Chattooga River are memories Jackie will hold dear. Most important to them were times at Lake Burton with his two brothers, Alex and Bob and their respective wives, Karen and Anne. As health limitations grew, they still enjoyed many concerts, local plays, and exploring their beloved mountains of Habersham and Rabun. Their work with the Habersham County Historical Society was most important and offered them the opportunity to serve on the Executive Committee. This effort resulted in a published work of the history of our area.
Dr. Thomas L. Hodges, Jr. is survived by his wife, Jacquelyn Durham Hodges, one brother James Alexander Hodges, 5 of his six children, 13 Grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his second family, who lovingly called him “Dr. Tom”: Britt and Gerald Cody, 4 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Many wonderful times were shared with him, for which we will always be grateful.
A memorial service will be held at a later date, and a private family burial will be in Mitchell, Georgia at the City Cemetery. The family requests that flowers be omitted and memorial contributions may be made to Clarkesville United Methodist Church, Habitat for Humanity, Habersham Animal Shelter, Habersham County Historical Society or a charity of one’s choice.
An electronic guest register is available at whitfieldfuneralhomes.com
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, North Chapel at 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia 30535. Telephone: 706-778-1700.
