MARY FRANCES HODGE

Mary Frances (Stanley) Hodge Most affectionately called Granny joined her beloved Alvin Hodge (D) on July 17, 2026. Granny was born to John and Fannie Stanley (D) on June 15, 1957. She was raised in Salem, VA alongside her sister Nannie Hoosier and brother Fred (Jenny) Stanley. She graduated from Andrew Lewis High School in 1976. She often shared stories of the “Good old days” and laughed while telling how she and her best friend Lanelle (Leslie) Fisher would walk in one door and right back out the other skipping class and making memories. The only thing Granny loved more than Elvis, country music, and coffee was her family and friends. Even through her hardest days she made sure to send Good morning and Goodnight text to the people she counted most precious; Her children Wesley (Amanda) Hodge, Beth (Travis) Mabes, Tommy (Melissa) Hodge, bonus children Jennifer (Chris) McPherson, Michaela (Christopher) Crawford, Jeff (Nikki) Waldin; her grandchildren Colton (Damie) Mabes, Cooper Mabes (Kalena Shupe), Carsyn Mabes (Kaiden Holdren), Paisley Hodge, Macy Hodge, Corrie Mabes, Nathan Hodge, and Faith Ann Hodge; her brothers and sisters in law, nieces and nephews, “wild and crazy” cousins, work friends and her church ladies. The visits and Bible study with Ann Fisher, Wanda Scott, and Anita Givens were something she looked forward to every week. Most of her favorite memories started with “One time at Granny's” and had something to do with her cousins and getting into mischief of some sort. Mary often said she always wanted to be just like her Granny and created a place where her children, grandchildren and all their friends felt loved, welcomed, and safe to be just who they were. She loved preparing big dinners and having everyone around the table and spilling out into the yard. Especially when Daddy (Alvin) had his guitar out playing music. Her “ladies” Sherry, Tasha, Nancy, Anna, Mary Marie (D), Janie(D), and all the rest became family over the 30 years she worked in the cafeteria for Craig Co Schools. In 2022 her world was tilted when she was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis and then again in 2024 when she was also diagnosed with ALS. Through all of the pain, hospital visits, and the unknown she kept smiling and praising God. Whenever her family struggled with all she was enduring she would say “have faith, God knows what he's doing”. Thank you Ann, Wanda, and Anita for the calls, weekly visits, and prayers. A special thank you to Dr. Robert Carpenter and his nurse Arianna for helping us navigate the last 4 1/2 years and to Good Samaritan for the last several weeks. Funeral Services will be held 12 pm Thursday, July 23, 2026, at Cornerstone Church with Pastor Don Brown officiating. Interment will follow at Huffman Memorial Park. The family will receive friends 6 – 8 pm Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at Paitsel Funeral Home.