Mary Joe Hodges , 89, of Grenada, MS, died Monday, January 30, 2023 at Grenada Living Center. Services will be 1 p.m. Friday at Wilson and Knight Funeral Home with visitation 11:30 a.m. until service time at Wilson & Knight Funeral Home. Rev. Dr. Stephen Hale will officiate.

She was born August 25, 1933 in Lexington, MS, to Joe Ethamer Phelps and Mary Walla Sayle Phelps. She was a Girl Scout leader for many years in both Laurel and Newton, MS, and was born to be a lover of horses which is what the name Phelps means. She worked at a boarding kennel in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. She was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil Hodges, whom she married on September 6, 1950, and her parents.

She is survived by her three daughters, Mary Catherine Hodges Stewart and husband AJ of Avalon, MS, Cecelia Rebecca Hodges Baker and husband John of Sulpher, OK, and Evelyn Ruth Hodges Huskey and husband Tim of Lake Providence, LA; uncle, Ben Sayle of Greenville, MS; five grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter.

Pallbearers will be Nick Van Mol, Billy Joe Henley, John Wayne Elmore, Billy Sayle, Joey Sayle , and Johnny Sayle. Honorary pallbearers will be all her cousins.