Clarence W. Hodges
...owned Hodges Barber Shop in Tewksbury Center; 95
TEWKSBURY - Clarence W. Hodges, age 95, Tewksbury's "southern gentleman" farmer and former businessman, died peacefully, Saturday evening, January 16, at the Wingate at Lowell, after a long period of declining health. He was the beloved husband for 64 years of Narcissa G. "Cheeza" (Fantini) Hodges.
He was born in a log cabin on December 6, 1914 in Cogdell, Georgia, one of twelve children of the late Clifford Alva and Pearlie (Lott) Hodges. Although he left Georgia upon his entry into the Army, he maintained his linguistic "Southern Drawl" throughout his life. He had lived in Tewksbury since 1945.
He served in the 157th Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division of the US Army who were liberators of the famed Dachau Concentration Camp at the close of WWII. Remarkably, the 45th spent 511 days on the front lines beginning in North Africa, marching through Italy, and into central Europe. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge among other decorations.
Upon honorable discharge from the Army, he opened Hodges' Barber Shop on the back side of the former Masonic Hall in Tewksbury Center, now the site of Tewksbury Center Mobil. Throughout his life he maintained a working farm on Marston Street in Tewksbury, and especially enjoyed the challenge and schemes involved in growing giant pumpkins to enter into the Giant Pumpkin Contest at the annual Topsfield Fair. He was also a member of the Tewksbury-Wilmington Elks Lodge, and the Tewksbury V.F.W. Post 8164. Clarence will be remembered for his dry wit and sense of humor, his superficially gruff exterior that he used to try to hide his caring and warm heart, but mostly for his "Southern Charm."
He is survived by two children, Gary U. Hodges and his wife Susan (Spofford) Hodges, and C. Gail Hodges all of Tewksbury; his sisters and step sister, Sheila Gaskins, Mary Ruth Clanton, and A. Sue Innes, and Imogene Purvis McCrannie all of GA; four granddaughters; and many great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was also step son of the late Edna Purvis Hodges; and brother of the late Emery Hodges, his twin C. Howard Hodges, Joe Lott Hodges, Clifford Hodges Jr., Robert Hodges, Harold Hodges, Frances Lambert, Doris Phillips, Claude Purvis Jr., and Iona Purvis Drake.
His Funeral Service was be held Thursday, Jan. 21, in the Funeral Home. Burial with Army honors followed at Tewksbury Cemetery.