Sarah Hodges' Obituary
Sarah Hodges was born Sarah Catherine Merritt on January 31, 1938, in Gainesville, FL. After graduating from Gainesville High School, she married Ira John Hodges, Jr., on January 21, 1956. As Johnny had joined the Marines in 1955, they lived at Camp Lejune in North Carolina through 1960. After Johnny’s discharge from service, they moved to Archer FL. She worked as a homemaker, and part-time in clerical roles at the Alachua County Health Department; later, she would work at the Health Department full time until she retired in 2005.
She was always busy and active, inside the home and out. She was dedicated to the church, filling various roles at the First Baptist Church in Gainesville, then the First Baptist Church of Archer, including Sunday School, GAs, Vacation Bible School and the nursery. She enjoyed gardening (some people in the area know the family residence as “the azalea house”), was a wonderful cook and devoted wife and mother.
She is preceded in death by husband Ira John Hodges Jr., parents James and Mary Merritt, and brother James Merritt Jr. She is survived by daughters Eileen Hodges and Kathyleen (Lee) Hardage, and foster daughter Paula Rivers.
A memorial service will be held graveside at Laurel Hill Cemetery, 13975 SW 174th Street, Archer, on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the First Baptist Church of Archer.
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