Shirley Hodge Downing, 68, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, died Friday, January 31, 2014, at Tift Regional Medical Center in Tifton.
Funeral services will be held 4 PM, Sunday, February 2, 2014, at the Church of the Nazarene in Fitzgerald with the Rev. Dr. Roy E. Rogers, the Rev. David Ash, and the Rev. Dan Hayes officiating. Interment will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 Saturday evening at the funeral home in Fitzgerald.
Mrs. Downing was born December 9, 1945, in Screven, Georgia to the late Lester & Pearline Hamilton Hodge. She was a former Registrar for Ben Hill County Elementary School. She was very artistic and had a special talent for arranging flowers. She will be remembered as a loving grandmother and friend. Mrs. Downing was a member of Church of the Nazarene in Fitzgerald.
She is survived by her husband of 39 years: Wayne Downing of Fitzgerald; a son: David & Breana King of Fitzgerald; a daughter: Donna Karen & Al Hatcher of Atlanta; five grandchildren: Denee Satterfield, Dylan King, Calvin Hatcher, Zander Hatcher and Alli Hatcher; three brothers: Henry & Kathleen Hodge, Robert Hodge, and Larry Hodge, all of Fitzgerald; and one sister: Marie & Don Green of Irwinville. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers: Mike Hodge and Archie Hodge.
The family suggests those desiring to send memorials may send them to Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation, P.O. Box 747, Tifton, Georgia 31793, to be used for the benefit of oncology patients.