Mrs. Lessie Mae Brown-Hodges was born June 29, 1953, in Colleton County, South Carolina. She was the daughter of the late Deacon Isaac and Sister Esther Raspberry Brown. On Saturday, June 3, 2023, she entered eternal rest after an extended illness.

She attended the public schools of Dorchester County and graduated from Williams Memorial High School in 1970.  She was a faithful member of White Stone Baptist Church and participated in various capacities, and she enjoyed the special fellowship at Springtown United Methodist Church.  She worked for the state of New Jersey for several years prior to relocating to South Carolina, where she was employed by S. C. State University, the state of South Carolina, and the Orangeburg County Sherriff's Department.

Lessie enjoyed spending time with family and friends, learning and playing new electronic games and apps, traveling, and taking care of her grandbabies.

She leaves to cherish her precious memories, her husband of fifty years, John Leroy Hodges, of the home; her loving and caring sons, Jermaine L. Hodges, of the home and Joseph L. Hodges, (Alysha) of Blythewood, SC; six adorable grandchildren, Justin, Lauren, and Joshua of Charlotte, NC, Jayden, Jaxson and Alayna of Blythewood, SC; one brother, Clifford Brown, (Selma), of Savannah, GA; three sisters, Ida Tanner of Browns Mills, NJ, Eartha Sewell (Marvin) of Atlanta, GA and Lorene Larkin (Ray) of Orangeburg, SC; one brother-in-law, James Preston Rivers of Tucson, Arizona; a daughter-in-law, LaTasha Hodges of Charlotte, NC; one aunt, Emma Rhett of Columbia, SC and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.