Mrs. Reola M. Hodges Williams

Mrs. Reola Marie Hodges Williams, 92, of Madison, Virginia, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 10, 2024.  She was born on February 18, 1931, to the late James and Golley Hodges of Smoaks, South Carolina.  She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Eugene Paul Williams, Sr.; brothers, Willis Hodges, Woodrow Hodges, Jeremiah Hodges, Jesrow Hodges, Willie James Hodges, Rodgers Hodges; and sister, Muriel Hodges Goodwin. 

Mrs. Reola worked for over 50 years for several prominent families in West Port, Connecticut, which included Adele Behar, Dr. Guy Torstenson, and journalist Harry Reasoner of CBS 60 Minutes. Journalist Harry Reasoner once told Mrs. Reola to purchase a set of encyclopedias because her son Paul asked so many unanswerable questions.

Mrs. Reola was nurtured in the Christian faith at an early age in Springtown United Methodist Church. She was an active member of Holy Trinity Church and in Bethel AME of Norwalk, CT. While at Bethel AME, she served on the usher board and the adult choir and organized special prayer services and Bible study ministries. 

Mrs. Reola and Eugene moved to Bristow, Virginia, in 2009.  After Eugene's death, she moved to Madison, Virginia, with her son Paul and daughter-in-law Nancy.  She loved living in the country and could not wait for the fresh vegetables from the garden.  She would watch for the different birds to build their nests each Spring.  Hummingbirds were one of her favorites to watch.  

Mrs. Reola always looked forward to her fishing trips with her sons. Not only did they catch fish, but they would have active and engaging discussions about the Lord. Reola’s greatest loves were serving the Lord and being with “my boys”. Paul, Pernell, and Joseph loved and spoiled her.   

Mrs. Reola is survived by three sons: Eugene Paul Williams, Jr. (Nancy) of Madison, Virginia, Pernell Jerome Williams (Perrie) of Davidsonville, Maryland, and Joseph Scott Williams, Sr. (Pamela) of Centerville, Virginia; one sister, Celestine Johnson Davis of Atlanta, Georgia; four grandsons; Paul Eugene Williams, III, Joseph Williams, II, Gabriel Williams, and Adam Williams and two granddaughters, Kennedy Williams, and Tina Gordon; one great-grandson Alijah Williams; four sisters-in-law: Natalie Tucker of Norwalk, Connecticut, Amelia Young of Woodside, New York, Catherine Williams of Long Beach, New York, and Lou Ethel Hodges of Durham, North Carolina; two special friends: Pearline Davis and Ruth James of Norwalk, Connecticut; her goddaughters Paula Davis and Cynthia Rowe; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and relatives and friends.  

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