Gloria “Faye” Grounds Hodge, 85 years old, departed this world in the early morning hours of Sept. 13, 2026 to be reunited with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and all of her loved ones who had gone before.
Faye was born the fifth of ten children of Ira Herndon Grounds and Florie Bethel Stover Grounds on March 14, 1941 in Coal River, WV, although she primarily was raised on Cabin Creek. She was predeceased by her parents and brothers: Earl, Den, Terry, and Kent; and sisters: Judy, Betty, Bethel, and Sharon.
She married the love of her life, Larry Houston Hodge, at Decota Methodist Church on her 18th birthday, and they were married 65 years before he was called home on September 8, 2024.
She was also met in heaven by her grandson, Jordan Lucas Keesecker, and great granddaughter Jaelyn Hodge.
Left to cherish her memories are her sister, Danese Mabbitt of Staunton, Virginia, her sisters-in-law, Thelma Hodge of Renick, WV, Judy Grounds of Kanawha City, WV, Louise Grounds of Cross Lanes, WV, brother-in-law EJ Walker of Bidwell, OH, and honorary sister-in-law Patty Grounds of Cabin Creek, WV.
Those left to carry on her legacy include her children, Greg (Debbie) Hodge of Calvin, WV, Gary (Madilyn) Hodge of Ladera Ranch, CA, Jeff (Debbie) Hodge of Johnson City, TN, Scott (Susan) Hodge of Camden, SC, and Mindy (Johnny) Layne of Fairmont, WV, her grandchildren: Katherine, Chrissy, Kim, Michael, Tina, Jeffrey, Kayla, Ryan, Isaac, Julian, Bethany, Cole, Zoe, Heather, Kate and Emma; great-grandchildren Josh, Elijah, Ashtyn, Annabelle, Kynlee, Pete, Callie, Jordan, Emerson, Easton, Daisy, Jonah, Oliver, Ella, Emilia and Mollie, and too many nieces and nephews to count.
Faye’s walk with Christ began in October 1977 when in a small country church, Henning Church of God, in Frankford, West Virginia, the call of Christ spoke to Faye, her husband, Larry, and all five of their children as they knelt at an altar as “The King is Coming” was ringing throughout the church building.
At that moment the trajectory of her life along with those of her immediate family changed her outward and inward in person, and she began a life of service to her Lord, setting an outstanding example for generations to come through her service at First Church of God in Princeton, WV, Maranatha Tabernacle in Unicoi, TN, and Landmark First Church of God in Princeton, WV.
Outside her faith, Faye’s role as a grandmother (she was lovingly referred to as “Mommaw”) set the bar extremely high for anyone to follow in her footsteps. She was nothing less than a short-order cook for breakfast as no grandchild’s request for their preferred breakfast food would go unheeded.
Faye was the epitome of the perfect housewife. She took care of her home with pride and everyone enjoyed her cooking immensely. While residing in Erwin, Tennessee, Faye became an LPN at the age of 48 and worked alongside her husband in nursing homes in East Tennessee caring for the elderly and those with Alzheimer’s at what was then known as Life Care Center of Erwin. Accordingly, it was bittersweet when at the age of 82 she had a stroke that catapulted her into late-stage Alzheimer’s which forced her to need caregivers that could give her the love and respect that she so graciously gave to those that she cared for when she was in her prime.
Special thanks to Harmony at White Oaks in Bridgeport for the care and love they showed Faye, and specifically Sasha, who she loved immensely. Also, special appreciation to Amedisys Hospice Care (Brenna, Rachael and Alyssa) from Anmoore that showered her with care and love over the past few months.
A celebration of Faye’s life will be held at Landmark First Church of God in Princeton, WV on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, with visitation at 1 p.m., and a memorial service at 2 p.m.. Condolences may be extended to the family at www.perinefunerals.com. The Perine Funeral Home is honored to serve the Hodge family.