James W. Hodges, Sr. Memhpis, TNJames W. Hodges Sr. passed away peacefully on January 12, 2017. James was born on February 10, 1929, to Hobson and Mabel Hodges in Grubbs, Arkansas. He left east Arkansas farmland at a young age to join the Army Air Corps. Between tours in the Korean War he met Norma Prichard. In 1951, they married and started a family in Memphis, where he attended the Southern School of Law. Later, his job with the US Department of Defense led his family to the Washington DC area. Following his retirement from the DOD, James and his family returned to Memphis where he started his own law firm and became one of the founding members of the Memphis Federal Bar Association. Throughout his life he made time for family, coached youth sports, promoted outdoor preservation, enjoyed writing letters to the editor, and welcomed every opportunity to dance with his wife to the Tennessee Waltz. James Wesley Hodges, Sr. was a consummate southern gentleman, proud of his heritage, and loved his family, friends and country. He will be missed.James, Sr. was preceded in death by his son, James Wesley Hodges, Jr. He leaves his wife of 65 years, Norma, his three daughters, Janet Kissling, Jo Johnson (Russell), Nancy Mellon (Mike), 9 grandchildren, Brittany Johnson, Emily Sharp (Ben), Eric Johnson, Bryan Mellon (Sarah), Elizabeth Mellon, Katie Hodges, Shelby Hodges, Bailey Hodges, and James Wesley Hodges, III.A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, January 17, 2017, at the West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery on Forest Hill Irene in Germantown. Memorial donations may be made to the .