Arelia Hodges, 87, of South 17th Street, Niles died at 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010 at Buchanan Meadows Living Center, Buchanan following a brief illness.

She was born July 11, 1923 in Little Rock, Ark. to Walter Thompson and Mattie (Bluford) Thompson. She attended school in Little Rock, coming to this area in 1944 and completed high school at Brandywine.

She was a member of Franklin A.M.E. Church in Niles. She was a resourceful cook, innovative designer and skilled seamstress. She supported her children’s programs. She was very supportive and encouraging to her husband and his endeavors. She was also on the Niles Township Park Board, a Census taker and election polling place volunteer.

She married Clarence Elijah Hodges in May 1942.

She is survived by her husband; sons, Martin J. Hodges, of Niles, Waymon M. (Dorthena) Hodges, of Benton Harbor and Don Carlos Hodges, of Niles; daughters, the Rev. Saundria J. Hodges-Wilson, of Niles and Andria L. (Isaac) Hood, of Westland, Mich.; many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Frank Thompson, of College Station, Ark.; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Janel Renee Highsmith, who died in 1987; sisters, Willetta Crawford and Darthelia Benton; and brother, Walter “Buddy” Thompson Jr.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 9, 2010 at Franklin A.M.E. Church, Niles with the Rev. Jared L. Graves Sr. of Franklin A.M.E. Church and the Rev. Norman Tubbs of Chain Missionary Baptist Church officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

An evening devotion will be held at 7:15 p.m. Sunday at Halbritter Funeral Home by the Rev. Saundria Wilson.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Franklin A.M.E. Church.