James "Sweet" Errol Hodges

His granddaughter said “Pepaw” was one of the only people I know who lived his life doing what he loved.” If he was doing something, he wanted to do it and he did it with passion and perfection. If he didn’t want to do something, he just flat didn’t do it. His daughter said, “He was very competitive and not afraid of failure.”

Since he was a young child, he has loved horses and dogs. He would challenge other youngsters on horseback to race around the farm.

Young James went to live for a time with his Aunt Billy and Uncle Crawford Rushing. His cousin’s name was William. James affectionately started calling him “Sweet William”. The term of endearment stuck to James instead. So since then, everyone who really knows James, now calls him “Sweet”.

He was always competitive. He was a standout athlete in High School. Pursued by Humphreys High School to play all four sports! And he did! They went undefeated in football one season while he was there. He was recruited by Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Moorehead State to play football for them.

He loved rodeo and competed in bull riding for 6 years in his early 20’s. Sharing his passion for rodeo with his 4 children during their high school years. The family spent many precious hours together enjoying this passion of their Dad.

And he loved his hunting dogs. These prize-winning dogs were not pets for him. He hunted deer on horseback with dogs. For many years while he was farming, he was passionate about his fox hunting field trials. Making a name for himself by winning many big trails over the years. Often, he and his other fox hunting buddies would be gathered around the kitchen table listening to a small tape recorder of the trails. They could pick out their own dog and would mimic them as they listened on the little tape player.

More recently, he had a quail hunting lease in Texas. He and his buddies would retreat to the hunting camp and spend many fulfilling hours and days fellowshipping and hunting. Some of his most treasured moments were the annual trips he got to go on with his sons, Butch and John. It was so important to him to share his love of quail hunting with his sons.

Sweet was a successful farmer for ten years and always had a winning racehorse or two in the barn. He would race at the local dirt track, but soon that became a strong passion for him as well. The quarter horse racing made way for the thing he longed to accomplish. He began training thoroughbred horses to better fill a need in his life. And it became his life. He said many times “Horses have been very good to me.”

The many awards and records he has accomplished in the last decades of his life speak for themselves. Sweet is a very respected and LOVED man about the track and in life. If you made his breakfast, veterinarian, groom, friend or just someone in passing, Sweet is someone you remembered. He will be missed and remembered and loved by many of all ranks and ages. He will be missed tremendously by the big, beautiful family he and his wife, whom he adored, Phyllis successfully blended and nurtured.

Sweet is preceded in death by his parents Price and Ruth Hodges, brother Price Hildreth Hodges, Jr., and his sister Sandra Hodges Taylor.

Sweet is survived by: his adoring wife of 32 years, Phyllis J. Hodges; sisters Ann Mitchell and her husband Jon and Marilyn Lee and her husband Robert Lee; sons, John Hodges, Butch Hodges and wife Georgette, and Michael David Walker and wife Gena; daughters, Mandy Hodges, Robin Hodges, Melissa Moore and husband Hank; granddaughters, Hart Rossi, Blair Aguillard and husband Jason, Jamie Rossi, Chyna Hogan, Claudia Hodges, Abby Hodges, Bayleigh Hodges, and Kylie Solito and husband William; grandsons, Randall Hodges, Garrett Hogan, Seth Hodges, Eli Walker and wife Jessica, Reed Moore and wife Laura, Ross Moore and wife Alyssa; great-grandchildren, Chloe Jackson, Caleb Jackson, Corinne Jackson, Carter Jackson, Taylor Aguillard, Peyton Aguillard, Carson Aguillard, Michaela Bullock, Sophie Bullock, Rory Hodges, Adah James Hogan, Aidan Galloway, Maddox Galloway, Rowan Galloway, Ezera Wiltze, Wellwick Brown, Tatum Walker, Case Walker, Lake Moore, and Dux Moore; He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Also remaining to continue his legacy include Chaplain Jimmy at the Winner Circle Church. He loved and cherished his extended family throughout the Louisiana racing circuit.

A visitation for Sweet will be held Tuesday, September 10, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Hill Crest Memorial Chapel, with the funeral at 2:00 PM. Interment will follow in the Hill Crest Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Butch Hodges, John Hodges, Ronald Ardion, Reed Moore, Ross Moore, and Seth Hodges. Honorary Pallbearers are Hank Moore, Jason Aguillard, Michael David Walker, and Eli Walker.

In lieu of flowers, please graciously donate, in Sweets honor, to: The Winners Circle Church, P.O. Box 157, Princeton, LA 71067.