ROBERT PRESTON LEE HODGE SR.

Robert Preston Lee Hodge Sr., age 83, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 4, 2020, at his home with his family around him.

Born in Clarendon County, he was a son of the late Harvey Preston Lee Hodge and Susie Lee H. Hodge. He was a loving father, a loving man and an avid hunter and outdoorsman. He was a loyal friend and never met a stranger. His hands were always at work fixing things and helping others. He loved the Lord and loved his family. As a young man, he was a dog trainer. He worked for Sumter Chainsaw, Simpson's hardware and Korn Industries.

Surviving are his life partner, Terri Cox; two sons, Robert Hodge Jr. and his wife, Michael, and Timothy Hodge and his wife, Kathy, both of Sumter; two daughters, Linda Patrice and her husband, Bob, of Houston, Texas, and Brenda Cockerill and her husband, John, of Sumter; one brother, Jerry Hodge and his wife, Patsy, of Manning; two sisters, Ann McDonald and her husband, Frankie, of Sumter and Sarah Geddings (the late Neil) of Florence; seven grandchildren, Frankie Parsons, Pete Henderson, Tina Thompson, Ronald Patrice, Hailey Hodge, Victoria Hodge and Stephanie Kron; along with 17 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 49 years, Bessie Marie Hodge; granddaughter, Eve Henderson; seven brothers, Eernest Rembert Koone, Frank Koone, Carl Koone, Harvey Hodge Jr., John W. Hodge, Jimmie Hodge and Jack Hodge; and four sisters, Gertrude Barbato, Mildred K. Gardner, Athlene H. Thames and Jill Hodge.

A family graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Providence Baptist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Sammy Thompson officiating.

Honorary pallbearers will be Gary Shuman, Stephen Porter, Austin Barkley, Johnathon Barkley, Harvey McDonald, Todd McDonald, Stacey McDonald, JB Hodge, Ben Holladay, Jeffrey Thames, Austin Floyd and Bill Greene.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. today at Bullock Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Cross Trail Outfitters of South Carolina, RE: Black River Chapter, P.O. Box 2013, Hartsville, SC 29551.

You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family's guest book online.

The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home of Sumter for the arrangements.