Gassennie Margaret (Webb) Hodge

Gassennie Margaret Webb Hodge was born in Greensboro, Alabama on August 30, 1936.  She was the tenth child of twelve sisters and brothers born to the late Cagar William Webb, a Baptist Minister and Gassennie Myers Webb, an elementary school teacher.  She graduated from Greensboro High School and attended Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree.  She received her Master’s Degree in Library Science from North Carolina Central University. She began her teaching career as an elementary school teacher in Akron, Alabama.  In 1958, she married the love of her life, Oliver Lee Hodge, Sr. and moved to Durham, North Carolina and then to Laurinburg, North Carolina, where they both taught school. 

After teaching in Laurinburg for 6 years she and her husband moved back to Durham and she became a librarian in the Durham City School system until she retired after 26 years. She was a librarian at Hillside High School, Walltown Grade School, Morehead Elementary and Shepherd Middle School.

Gassennie was a loving and very devoted mother to her two sons: Oliver Lee Hodge, Jr., of Fayetteville, North Carolina and Roderick Van Hodge who is here in Durham, North Carolina.  She was always very proud of her two sons and their accomplishments and she was also a very loving and devoted wife to her husband of 61 years, Oliver Lee Hodge, Sr. whom she adored.

 Gassennie was a longtime member of Mount Vernon Baptist Church starting in 1958 where she attended faithfully and sang in the church Celestial choir. She was also a member of the Friends of the Library, Glory Girls Book Club and Daughter of Ruth Sunday School Class. She was an active member of the Alpha Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Dot (Gassennie), which she was affectionately referred by her sisters and brothers, was a very loving and supportive sister.  She always enjoyed visiting them and calling to talk with them on the phone no matter the state in which they lived. 

She departed this life on Sunday, February 9, 2020.  She is survived by her husband, Oliver Lee Hodge, Sr., sons Oliver Lee Hodge, Jr.,(Cynthia), Roderick Van Hodge, (Pamela) and grandchildren Oliver Lee Hodge III, Ashley Micala and Jaydn Renee; two sisters, Lovie LaVerne Webb Brown in San Diego, California; and Dr. Joyce Patricia Webb, Baltimore, MD; Brothers-In-Law, Dr. Harold K. Brown, San Diego; and Dr. Charles Hicks; Sisters-In-Law, Myrtis Webb and Annette Webb, Atlanta, GA; and a host of Nieces and Nephews.
 

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