Essie Louise Hodges

Essie Louise Hodges of White Rock, SC passed to her Heavenly Home on March 31, 2025. The daughter of Willie James and Essie Smith Thomason she was born in Fountain Inn, SC on March 5, 1925. After losing her father to a seemingly minor farming accident in the days before antibiotics, she arrived at Epworth Children’s Home at the age of 9 with her beloved younger brother Earl. Older brother James, twelve years old at the time, was considered an adult and stayed to support their mom. Life was difficult during those years of the depression and Epworth was home to several hundred children. Louise had many fond memories of her childhood and made many lifetime friends during her years at what was then called Epworth Orphanage. They attended an on-campus school, and she excelled in her schoolwork. She learned many skills and became an excellent seamstress. It was here where she met a scrappy, handsome Milton “Buck” Hodges who excelled in every sport and a close friend of her brother Earl. She became President of Epworth High School, Class of 1942, and Buck was Treasurer. Her mentor at Epworth, Dr W.D. Roberts, encouraged her to continue her studies, and she turned down Buck’s quest for her to marry before he went off to War. Louise went on to Columbia College, working part time as a dorm mother at Epworth while earning her degree in 1946. Buck had enlisted in the Army Air Force right after graduation. They were married in November 1946 after he returned. The President and the Treasurer continued in their respective roles, her being the dreamer and goal setter, and Buck keeping hold of the reins. Their marriage was 58 years of sharing their time and resources with others, and a living example of their Faith in their Maker and Savior.

Louise went to work in the Lab at Clemson Extension Veterinarian Service, retiring after the birth of her two daughters. She later became a kindergarten teacher at Virginia Wingard Memorial United Methodist Church where she and Buck were Charter Members. She made clothes for her daughters and later made rugs and window treatments for their homes. She was a Brownie Troop leader, Sunday School teacher and mentor to many children in the neighborhood on Atlantic Drive. Louise returned to college in 1975 and earned her teaching Certificate in Chemistry and Early Childhood Education in 1976. Afterwards she taught in Lexington School District Two, retiring in 1983 to spend time with her grandchildren.

After Buck’s passing, she stayed in their home on Atlantic Drive for 7 years. A friend in the neighborhood would plow her garden in the spring and she planted every veggie imaginable. With help of her much younger friend and neighbor, they watered, hoed weeds, made tin foil scarecrows and produced bountiful results using Organic methods, without herbicides, that she shared with her family and friends. She slowed down a bit at age 86 and moved to Boliek Independent Living at the Heritage at Lowman. She again made many friends to fill her void of life without her beloved Buck and continued her lifelong quest for learning, joining Book Club, Poetry Club, attending Musical events, and engaging in many feisty discussions with authors and poets. She seldom even took as much as half of any prescribed medications, preferring homeopathic remedies. She finally retired from altering her own clothes at age 99.

Louise was predeceased by her husband Milton Hodges, her brothers James Thomason and wife Vera, and Earl Thomason and his wife Carolyn.

She is survived by her two daughters, Melanie Perkins (Terry), and Myra Farley (John), grandchildren Christopher Anderson, Clay Anderson, Kyle Farley, and Meredith Farley Bugenske, nine great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family would like to thank the staff and caregivers from Haltiwanger and Cana at the Heritage at Lowman and Lutheran Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, the Family encourages you to make a generous contribution to Epworth Children’s Home or Leo’s Pride.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, April 6 at 2:00 pm followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 3:00 pm at Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, 7600 Woodrow Street, Irmo SC. A graveside Committal service will follow at Elmwood Cemetery.

Pallbearers are her grandchildren Christopher Anderson, Clay Anderson, Kyle Farley, Meredith Farley Bugenske, and family members Jeff Thomason and Hamp Thomason.