Carolyn Joyce Hodges
Carolyn Joyce Graham Hodges, 81, of Salem, Va., entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
Known as Joyce to her family and friends, she was born on September 8, 1943, in Roanoke County to the late James Graham and Edith Epperly Graham.
She grew up in Calloway and Salem. She was an avid learner. She loved school so much that after leaving school as a teenager to get married, she later completed her GED and, in her forties, graduated summa cum laude from Mary Baldwin College with a degree in accounting.
When she was 48, she became a registered nurse and graduated first in her class. She worked at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center for 36 years, where she proudly served our nation’s veterans, the final 17 years as a nurse.
She was the most generous mother. She would have given anything she had to help her family. She was also a protective mama bear and stood by her children in any circumstance.
She was a proud grandma and GG.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Henry Earl Hodges; brother, Alan Spangler; and sisters, Theresa and Rita.
Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Darryl Hodges and Rodney Hodges; daughters, Tammy Brammer and Lisa Booth and husband, Jeff; brothers, Jimmy Graham and David Spangler; and sister, Trina Graham. She was a kind and loving grandma to Jamie Frankie, Kasey Bordas, Jessica Woody, Jacob Hodges, Zach Booth, Jennifer Mattherty, Matthew Brammer, and Adam Booth. Finally, she was GG to 27 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Gaye Francisco and Gentle Shepherd Hospice for their kindness to their mother during this most difficult time.
A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at the John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem, with Reverend Dr. Don Woodard officiating. Burial will follow at Mountain View Memorial Park in Boones Mill.
Friends may visit the family from noon until the service hour at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.johnmoakey.com.