Ruford Burton Hodges Jr. died Oct. 24. He was 91.
A graduate of Furman University with a bachelor’s degree in history, Hodges also earned a master of divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.
Hodges served as pastor of High Hill Baptist Church, Darlington County, South Carolina; and Tigerville Baptist Church, Tigerville, South Carolina; and as associate pastor of Loray Baptist Church, Gastonia, North Carolina. In 1968, he and his wife, Jo, were appointed by the Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board) as missionaries to students and churches in Seoul, South Korea, where they worked until 1972.
When the couple returned to the United States, Hodges served campus ministries at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Alabama A&M and the University of Alabama until 1981. He then worked at FMB as a missionary candidate consultant in Richmond, Virginia, and returned to Alabama in 1988 as director of Baptist collegiate ministries for the State Board of Missions.
‘Strong commitment to collegiate ministry’
“Ruford has given exemplary service in Alabama Baptist life and, previous to that, at the Foreign Mission Board,” said Rick Lance, executive director of the SBOM, at the time of Hodges’ retirement. “He has a strong commitment to collegiate ministry, which I’m sure he will continue to demonstrate during retirement.”
He retired at the end of 1999 and became certified in hospital chaplaincy. He served several hospitals in the Birmingham area for many years.
Hodges was a member of Vestavia Hills Baptist Church and led a sermon reflection class for many years.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jo, of Birmingham; his three sons, David of St. Louis, Missouri; Stephen of Birmingham; and Philip of Homewood; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Share with others: