Karen Ann Hodges

Karen Hodges of Jonesboro passed away at St. Bernard’s Regional Medical Center on February 7, 2012.

She was born in Greenville, Mississippi and moved to Jonesboro at age five. She graduated from Jonesboro Public Schools and Mid-America Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas with a major in vocal performance.

She loved music and drama and participated in high school, community and church dramas and musicals. Some included were My Fair Lady; Sound of Music; Oliver, and many others.

She was active in the Tulsa, Oklahoma Oratorio Chorus; Pueblo, Colorado Community Choir and Arkansas State University Community Chorus. She was active in several children musicals in Olathe, Kansas; Kirksville, Missouri and Pueblo, Colorado.

Karen was a devout Christian and an active member of Forest Home Church of the Nazarene in Jonesboro. Her father passed on to her a love for missions and served on local and district level Nazarene Missions International (NMI) boards. She served as President of the Missionary Society in Tulsa, Oklahoma and as District NMI Secretary on the North Arkansas District. She was presented the Distinguished Service Award for faithful service from the NMI Council. She served on several mission trips, the last one to Africa where she was involved in the Prayer Vision Tour for the General Church of the Nazarene to Africa.

Karen loved to travel with family and friends and was privileged to go all around the United States as well as several countries abroad.

She was preceded in death by her father, Ed Stallings of Jonesboro. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Veryl D. Hodges, two sons, Denny (Nikki) of Bradenton, Florida, and Chris Hodges of the home; her mother, Roberta “Boots” Stallings and one brother, Chuck Stallings (Laura) of Jonesboro. Karen had a special love for her uncles and aunts and especially her 8 first cousins who were some of her closest friends.

Services will be conducted at Forest Home Church of the Nazarene on Race Street Saturday, February 11 at 2:00 p.m., with Rev. Ken Stallings presiding and Rev. Tony Griffin assisting. Visitation will be Friday evening, February 10, at 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Emerson Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be at Keller’s Chapel Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Tim Stallings, Ron Stallings, Larry Gibson, Steve Brown, Dave Persell and Steve Palmer.

Honorary pallbearers will be the past and present members of “Sweet Assurance”.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Forest Home Church of the Nazarene World Mission Ministry in Jonesboro.