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Mr. Robert Benjamin “Bobby” Hodges, age 68, Co-Owner and President of Paul Funeral Home & Crematory, Washington, NC died Friday, March 8, 2024 at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville.

A funeral service was held 2:00 PM Tuesday, March 12, 2024 in the Chapel of Paul Funeral Home & Crematory, officiated by Bishop Samuel Jones, Jr., pastor of Purpose of God Evangelistic Center and Reggie Braziel of Old Ford Church of Christ. Burial followed in Oakdale Cemetery in Washington.  The staff of Paul Funeral Home & Crematory served as pallbearers and honorary pallbearers.

The family received friends at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory daily prior to the funeral.  Visitation was held from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM Monday, March 11, 2024 at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory.

Bobby was born in Beaufort County on October 30, 1955, son of the late Benjamin Leslie Hodges and the late Catherine Singleton Hodges.  Growing up and working on the family farm, he learned to appreciate hard work and love of the land. He was most happy while on a tractor mowing the pasture, tilling the land, or harvesting. Bobby was a member of the 1974 Class of Washington High School and a 1983 graduate of East Carolina University with a degree in Business Administration.  He began his employment as a funeral director with Paul Funeral Home in 1986.  In 2011, Bobby saw the need to better serve the families of Beaufort and surrounding counties by installing the only crematory in Beaufort County.  He was very active in the funeral home industry and the community.  Bobby was a charter and retired member of the Old Ford Volunteer Fire Department, a member of the Old Ford Ruritan Club, a former Deacon and Treasurer of Old Ford Church of Christ, Woodmen of the World, Old Ford Camp 671, the Washington Noon Rotary Club, the North Carolina Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association.  Bobby served on the By-Laws Committee of the NCFDA and was a member of the Taylor Study Group, a group of 14 independently owned funeral homes that meet annually to discuss changing events in the funeral industry. Bobby was the President of the Pilot-Paul Mutual Burial Association. He was an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers and the Boston Red Sox.

Bobby had a true love of Christmas. For over twenty years, he would dress up as Santa Claus and visit with children and others at Beaufort County Hospital brightening their holiday. One project Bobby and Betsy were instrumental in implementing in the county was Stockings for Soldiers.  Over the course of eight years, with the generous support of so many, over 7,000 Christmas stockings were distributed to soldiers to bring joy to those serving our country.

On November 26, 1989, he married the love of his life, Elizabeth “Betsy” Davis Hodges.  In addition to Betsy, his wife and co-owner of the funeral home, he is survived by his brothers: Les Hodges and F. Mac Hodges and his wife Meta, all of Washington, and surviving aunts, Treasure Edwards and Jo Jo Singleton as well as many cousins.

Bobby was preceded in death by Opal and Bud Stallings, Carole and Jim Raiford, Roy Edwards, Laura and Sonny Lilley, Libby and Rochelle Moore, and Sam Singleton.

Bobby’s love for animals was very evident by the host of animals at the farm and at home.  Animals were welcome at the funeral home when their owners passed away.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Beaufort County Humane Society, P.O. Box 33, Washington, NC  27889.

Bobby was loved by many and will be missed by many.

Condolences may be made to Bobby’s family online by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

With heavy hearts and sadness, the family of Paul Funeral Home & Crematory is serving Bobby’s family.