Mrs. Dorothy Crowder Hodnett died peacefully at her home in Valley, AL, late Thursday afternoon, April 1, 2010. She was 84 years old.

Dot was born Christmas Eve, 1925, in Langdale, AL to Rube and Ida Crowder. After attending Valley High School she married James B. “John” Hodnett in 1943. As a war bride she moved with her husband to Little Rock, AR and Ozark, AL until John went overseas. At that time she returned to Langdale where she gave birth to their son, Byron, in 1945. For the rest of her life she was a devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend.

For many years Dot worked for the Interstate Telephone Company as a long distance operator and later at Valley Telephone Company in the Langdale business office. While living in Langdale, Dot was a member of Langdale Christian Church and, after moving to LaGrange in 1955, she was a long time member of First United Methodist Church of LaGrange.

In early 2009, Dot and John moved back to the Valley. “Miss Dot”, as many friends knew her, was a wonderful Southern cook. She had a very loving spirit and enjoyed sharing her hospitality with her many friends and family. The family greatly appreciates the wonderful care given Dot the last year of her life by Angie McGregor, Shelia Winston-Heard and Catharine Hutchinson.

Dot was preceded in death by her parents, Rube and Ida Crowder; and her brother, Earl Crowder.

She is survived by her husband of 66 years, John Hodnett; her son and daughter-in-law, Byron and Leslie Hodnett of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL; her granddaughter, Lisa Hodnett Richards and husband, Chris; two great-granddaughters, Hannah Richards and Abby Richards, all of Matthews, NC; her sister, Joan Hammock of Valley; and three nieces, Phyllis Crowder Chandler, Patsy Crowder Morris, and Stephanie Hammock Thrift.

Funeral services will be held today at 11:00 AM / EST at the graveside in Johnson Memorial Gardens in Valley, AL with Rev. Kenneth Holt officiating. The family will receive friends briefly immediately following the graveside services.

In lieu of flowers the family respectfully asks that memorials be made to the Langdale Christian Church in her memory.

Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home of Valley is in charge of arrangements.