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Lawrence David Hodge, 83, Elizabethton, went home to be with his Lord, following an extended illness, on Friday, January 5, 2024, at his home, surrounded by his loving family. Lawrence was born in Carter County, Tenn., to the late Starling and Clydia Overbay Hodge. He was a lifelong resident of Carter County.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Frances Hodge Lowe, and four brothers, Glenn Hodge, R.C. Hodge, Bobby Hodge and Herman Hodge.
Lawrence was a faithful and loving son, husband, father and papaw, and a loyal friend to many. He was a faithful servant of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and demonstrated that love by witnessing to others and by his many acts of love and kindness. Lawrence loved going to church and was a member of Hunter First Baptist Church for over 40 years where he served the church as a deacon and in other various capacities. For the past seven years he was a member of Lynn Valley Baptist Church.
Lawrence was a barber in Elizabethton for over 60 years. He served Carter County as a commissioner for more than 20 years and also served the county as a school bus driver for the Carter County School System for over 30 years. In his “spare time,” he enjoyed going out to eat with “The Breakfast Crew,” hunting and fishing. Lawrence was loved by many and will be greatly missed by his family, friends, church families and the community.
Lawrence is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Virginia Burrow “Jenny” Hodge, of the home; three children, David Hodge of Dallas, Texas, Russell Hodge and his wife Melissa of Elizabethton, and Mitzi Hodge Merritt and her husband Mike of Elizabethton; three grandchildren, Michael Hodge and his wife Rebekah, Emily Hodge Daugherty and her husband Steath, and Grayson Merritt, all of Elizabethton; three great-grandchildren, Madison Hodge, Maddux Hodge, and Rayla Hodge, also of Elizabethton; a sister, Chris McClure; and two brothers, Richard Hodge and Hugh James Hodge.
A service to remember and honor Lawrence will be conducted at 7 p.m. Monday, January 8, at Lynn Valley Baptist Church with Pastor Jamie Ferguson, Pastor Sherrel Nave, Pastor Tim Tapp and Pastor Rusty Verran officiating. Music will be under the direction of his daughter and grandson, Mitzi and Grayson Merritt, and Patty Hodge. The family will receive friends at the church from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, prior to the service, or at the residence at other times.
The graveside service and interment will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 9, at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers, who are requested to assemble at the funeral home at 10:30 a.m., will be Michael Hodge, Jonathan Nidiffer, Richie Burrow, Steve Hodge, Steath Daugherty, Bobby Burrow, Mike Merritt and Mitchell McClure. Honorary pallbearers will be Roger Lewis, Kim Birchfield, Lemmie Taylor, Judge Richard Gray, Glenn Creasey, Jerry “Jiggs” Beyers, John D. Snyder, Skip Walker, Sherrel Bowers, Carmon Whitehead, and the rest of the “Breakfast Crew.” Those who wish to attend the graveside service are asked to meet at the funeral home at 10:20 a.m. Tuesday to go in procession to the cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Lynn Valley Baptist Church Building Fund. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website, www.memorialfcelizabethton.com
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Hodge family.