Charlotte Ann Jackson Hodges

4/10/38-9/12/21

Charlotte Hodges, wife and mother extraordinaire passed away this weekend at the age of 83.

Her quick smile and infinite patience with her husband Fred and daughter Whitney Is enough to give her near saint status, but she will also be remembered by a much larger community , including University of Memphis, The Botanical Gardens, her neighbors, life-long friends and family.

Charlotte adored a great meal, a martini and played a mean game of tennis before putting away the racket and taking up mahjong instead.

She grew up in Whitehaven and met her husband Fred at Memphis State. Supporting Fred’s career, she had a chance to explore life from coast to coast--from NJ to California--and experience many fantastic places in the world that the two of them never thought possible.

Being married to Fred for 63 years, Charlotte learned to embrace the adventure of change and

developed his love for all things Tiger blue. She and Fred built an amazing life together—and from the dance floor to the golf course-- always

celebrated life. Fred says Charlotte never had a mean thing to say about anyone but that didn’t mean she couldn’t speak her mind. Her ability to read people and give

Fred candid counsel was a foundation for his successful years in business.

As her daughter, I will always appreciate the life skills she taught me. She taught

Me how to be gracious under pressure, how to entertain on the fly, and how to take very little and make it lovely. Her eye for color and design and artistic capability was exceptional. Her paintings will be much loved for years to come. Anyone who knew Charlotte also knows

She was more than a quintessential lady—she was tough as steel and taught both my father and how to be better people. She taught us how to weather any storm and too often, put aside her own wishes to help propel ours.

She leaves her husband Fred, daughter Whitney and son-in law John Hayes, her older siblings Leonard Jackson and Carolyn Wills and an extended family of nieces, nephews and cousins that span the country.

Charlotte battled and survived numerous health challenges later in life but couldn’t win the battle with Alzheimer’s.

She leaves many loving caregivers, Dawana, Margaret, Toni, Virginia, and others, and her hospice nurse, Sarah and physician Jonathan English.

A celebration of Charlotte will be announced in the weeks to come but for now, raise a toast to her amazing life and generous soul.

The Hodges family requests that donations be made in Charlotte’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association or LeBonheur Hospital or the charity of your choice.