Jewell Estes Washington Hyder Hodges, 95, of Bastrop,Texas died on March 8, 2013. Jewell was born on July 31, 1917. She was the only child of Dee and Lullaby (Hatcher) Washington and was born in Bastrop. Texas. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Oscar Hyder Sr. and Eugene Hodges; children, Oscar and Lullaby; and grandson, Godfrey Foster.

Survivors include grandchildren, Sondra Lee (John), Aaron Kent Claxton, Colleen Foster, Deirdre Jewel Hudson, Clayton Dillard, Stephon (Catherine) Foster, Paulette Shareef, Realer (Charles) Hamilton, Odalie (Wentworth) Ince, Wade (Deborah) Foster, Darryle Foster and Marguerite Foster; and sister-in-law, Colleen (Hodges) Banks.

Arrangements include the visitation on Wednesday, March 13 from 4-6 p.m., Wake follows from 6-8 p.m. at Mt. Rose Missionary Baptist Church, 507 Toliver St., Bastrop. Celebration of life will be Thursday, March 14 at 11 a.m. at Mt. Rose Missionary Baptist. Interment will follow at Shiloh Cemetery in Bastrop County.
OBIT FROM AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN:MARCH 15, 2013

Home
> News
> Local

Posted: 1:07 p.m. Thursday, March 14, 2013

BASTROP: COMMUNITY
Bastrop loses diminutive giant
Jewell Hodges was pioneer in her time

2 0 0 13

Related
View Larger
Bastrop loses diminutive giant
Jewell Hodges was larger than life in being pro-active for the Bastrop community.

By Debbie Moore

Contributing writer AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN:MARCH 14, 2013

Jewell Hodges passed from this life on March 8, shortly after noon at Argent Court Assisted Living Facility. Her beloved granddaughter, Colleen Foster, was holding her and had just read her Daily Word.

We had known for more than a week that Jewell would not be with us for long. However, she waited until Colleen got here from Florida, arriving Tuesday evening. They had a few days together and scores of her friends had an opportunity to visit with her in those last few precious days. Judi Hoover was her "other daughter," having been born on the same date as her daughter, Lullaby. Jewell died on the anniversary of death of Judi's mother. Those of us who knew her have no doubt that's the way this diminutive giant planned it.

Jewell was responsible for so many positive things in our community. She was the driving force behind starting the Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry and the senior support center there, which is named after her. She was very active in Church Women United, a group that endeavored to bring all races together, and where she met Judi's mother. Jewell was instrumental in starting the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration and the MLK Scholarship Fund, and the housing authority, which provides affordable housing. The National Mothers of America named her Mother of the Year in Texas. Jewell's Park on Hill Street near her former home is named for her.

I had the great privilege of meeting her in connection with my work with the Bastrop County Democratic Party. Jewell served as chair of Precinct 1013 for many years and was a devoted party stalwart. In typical Jewell fashion, as her eyesight and hearing began to fail, she stepped down as precinct chair, for the good of the party, but she remained active.

This wonderful lady had a way of getting us to look at ourselves and to see how we could do better. Though passionate about many things, I never heard Jewell raise her voice. She always spoke with love, respect and kindness for all people. My life is better for having known her.