Lt. Colonel Ashley Ray Hodge, Sr., US Army (Ret.), 82, beloved husband of Dianne Coker Hodge, died Saturday, July 18, 2020, at his home, surrounded by his loving family.
Born September 5, 1937, in Alcolu, he was a son of the late William Mills Hodge, Sr. and the late Ola Tindal Hodge Spigner. He was a retired US Army Lt. Colonel with 26 years of service. He received numerous awards and citations including four bronze stars, two Vietnam Campaign Medals, and the Overseas Service Ribbon (3d AWD). He was a member of Manning First Baptist Church and attended New Harmony Presbyterian Church. He was an avid outdoorsman and a member of the Mid-Carolina Gun Club and Field Trial Club.
Ray believed strongly in duty and honor and lived his life based on those beliefs, not only in his military career but in every aspect of his life. Ray was a truly honorable man beloved by his family and will be greatly missed by them and his many friends.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years of Alcolu; two children, Cheryl Hodge Blair of Peachtree City, GA and Ashley Ray “Nick” Hodge, Jr. of Manning; two grandchildren, Ashley Dianne Blair of New York, NY and John Calvin Blair of Dallas, TX; a brother, William Mills Hodge, Jr. of West End, NC; and a stepsister, Jewel Spigner Brown of Manning.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Jack Hodge.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, at New Harmony Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dr. Gordon K. Reed officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Trinity Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Bill Hodge, Garland Lovell, Jim Pruett, Stanley Hodge, Len Brown and Lannes Prothro.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21, 2020, at Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the residence, 8731 N. Brewington Road, Alcolu.
Memorials may be made to New Harmony Presbyterian Church, 1174 New Harmony Church Road, Alcolu, SC 29001.
Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church Street, Manning, is in charge of arrangements, (803) 435-2179. www.stephensfuneralhome.org
