David Sydney Hodges

November 16, 1955 - June 25, 2023

A man always seeking a path sailing the skies has finally landed at his mansion in the clouds. David Sydney Hodges, 67, was a man full of love and of many talents. He was well known for his smarts, and particularly his passionately-gathered knowledge of aviation. Despite his brilliance, he was a humble man–just one call away from getting his hands dirty to help someone out. When he spoke, you would learn something new whether it was some high-level scientific principle or a joke you’d never heard before. He shared his immense heart with everyone, and he looked after his family closely.

David was a native of Reidsville, Georgia, and built his home in the Joy Bluff area. He graduated Reidsville High School and went on to earn a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Physics from Georgia Southern College in 1978. He had a career in Health Physics. He worked in several nuclear plants in the states and abroad. In his life he built many things from log cabins to water heaters and airplanes. He shared his know-how with the world through his book “How to Build a Hodge Podge Lodge,” His true passion was the  aero-engineering class that he started at his home.in 2012. Working alongside his students, David built and nearly completed, before his untimely death, an entire twin engine airplane from scratch, naming it the Sky Hog.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Mathadeen Sikes Hodges; his father, Albert Sydney Hodges; his maternal grandparents Roger Wood and Myrtice Tatum Sikes;  paternal grandparents, Albert Carroll and Leta Jared Hodges; and brother-in-law, Dale Anderson.

He is survived by the love of his life Vicki Sikes of Collins; stepmother Linda Hodges of Tennessee; sisters Angie Anderson of Glennville, and Deborah (Ronald) Lundell of Hinesville; and his brothers Houston (Karen) Hodges of Lyons, Michael (Tami) Joiner of Tennessee, and Alan (Judy) Joiner of Tennessee.

He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, Chris Anderson, Osjha (Michael) Domenicone, Ashley (Jeff) Oriend, Haley (Gene) Pritchard, Courtney (Christian) Güther, Ariel (James) Lee, Jared (Kessani) Hodges, Eden Hodges, Adara Joiner, Devin (Carly) Joiner, Kayla March and Kristin Oldenburg, and seventeen great nieces and nephews all of which he cared for as if they were his own children.

Friends and family of David are invited to his visitation Saturday from 6-9 P.M. at Low Country Cremation and Burial at 124 Jordan St. in Reidsville, Georgia. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday at Reidsville Church of God, 274 W. Brazell St., Reidsville, Georgia with Reverends Alan Joiner and William Prince. David will be laid to rest at the Reidsville City Cemetery.

Pallbearers: Chris Anderson, Michael Domenicone,  Jeff Oriend, Gene Pritchard, Christian Güther, James Lee, Jared Hodges, and Christian H. Guther

Honorary pallbearers are David's Aero Engineering Class: Ben Manning and Joshua Summers.

Low Country Cremation and Burial has the honor to serve the Hodges family.