MORGAN E. HODGE

Morgan Edwin Hodge, 84, husband of the late Betty Atkinson Hodge, passed away on Wednesday, July 18, 2018, at Palmetto Health Tuomey.

Born May 12, 1934, in Sumter, he was a son of the late Arthur Liston Hodge and the late Rebecca Amarinta Bagnal Hodge. He was a member of Calvary Nazarene church and a member of the Claremont Masonic Lodge for more than 50 years. He was retired from CSX Railroad.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; a son, Gerald Hardin; a grandson, Trey Finley; brothers, Arthur Hodge, Leon Hodge, Norman Hodge, Oscar Hodge, Norwood Hodge and Pete Hodge; sisters, Bessie Mims, Irene Montgomery and Elizabeth Spencer.

Together, Betty and Morgan established a blended family that consisted of a son, Roger Hardin of Texas; a daughter, Sheila Matthews of Sumter; a brother and best friend, Arthur "Red" Atkinson; three granddaughters, Shonda Miller (Joel) and Alicia Legg (Nathaniel), both of Sumter, and Crystal Hatfield of Camden; other grandchildren, Shane, John, Jessie, Jamie, Sherease, Jerry, Trey and Lyn; 25 great grandchildren; nieces, Nancy Spencer, Beth Mims, Becky Montgomery, Barbara Sandler, Brenda Depp; nephew John Mims; and lots of other nieces and nephews.

A funeral service with Masonic Rites will be held 2 p.m. on Monday in the chapel of Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home with the Rev. Nat Brown officiating. Burial will be in Sumter Cemetery.

A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Monday at the funeral home and at other times in the home of Joel and Shonda Miller, 60 Ellen Drive, Sumter.

Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.