Brandon Evasio Hodges

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the untimely passing of C.P.L. Brandon Evasio Hodges, U.S.M.C. He was a distinguished Marine, beloved son, brother, nephew, grandson, and cherished friend who left us on August 29, 2023, at the young age of 31.

He was born on May 11, 1992, in Tampa, Florida, to Janet Pacheco-Hodges and Erik Hodges. Brandon was a natural-born leader with an indomitable spirit. His love for his country led him to enlist in the United States Marine Corps; after completing his contract with the Military, he fulfilled a lifelong dream of working with a Video Game Company. This dream took him to Rockstar Games in Carlsbad, California, where he helped to develop video games; he worked on Red Dead Redemption II and many others. Brandon ultimately reached his dream of becoming a business owner - H.E.A.T. High Energy Athletic Training. He was the Personal Trainer/Owner.

Brandon graduated from Richard C. Spoto High School in 2010, where he was an officer in the N.J.R.O.T.C. Program. He went to Valley Forge Military College in Wayne, Pennsylvania, immediately afterward for one term, trying to get appointed into the Naval Academy. When Brandon returned home after his freshman year, he enlisted in the U.S.M.C., never returning to Valley Forge. He attended Sacred Heart Academy (a private Catholic School) from E.C. 3 through 8th grade in his early years. He was an altar server at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in downtown Tampa. After his birth, he lived a few years in Savannah, Georgia, where he was baptized at St. James Catholic Church. Brandon spent most of his life in the Clair-Mel Palm River area of Southeast Tampa.

During his tenure in the Military, he was stationed in South Korea for a year, came back stateside to San Diego, California, and lived in the Vista area near Camp Pendleton. He took his girlfriend, Danielle De Groff, with him to California, who eventually became his wife of 5 years. During that time, they traveled the World. They went twice to Chornobyl, swam with Sharks, skydived over the beautiful islands of Hawaii, and cave dived in Costa Rica. They also vacationed in Alaska, where they went ice fishing and dog sledding. Also, they got to enjoy watching the Northern Lights.

Brandon is survived by his loving parents, Janet Pacheco-Hodges and Erik Brandon Hodges, of Tampa, Florida; older brother Lucas Pacheco; Aunt Chave Johnson; Aunt China Pacheco; Aunt Holly Hodges; Uncle Kelly Hodges; Abuela Paula Pacheco; Tia Eliza Valdes; First Cousin Carlos Leon; First Cousin Miranda Johnson; and Grandmother Donna Hodges of Forrest City Arkansas.

A visitation for Brandon will be held Monday, September 11, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Blount & Curry Life Event Center, 605 S MacDill Ave, Tampa, FL 33609. A funeral mass will occur Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 509 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33602, followed by a committal service at 1:00 PM at Florida National Cemetery, 6502 S. W. 102nd Ave, Bushnell, FL 33513.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.blountcurrymacdill.com for the Hodges family.