Page 104 - March-2015-Life-in-Naples-Magazine

NAMESAKE OF HODGES UNIVERSITY

TO BE HONORED AT HIGH TEA

T helma Hodges, longtime Naples THELMA HODGES
resident and namesake of Hodges
University, will be honored for her
service to the community at the inaugural
Thelma Hodges High Tea scheduled for March
28 from 2 – 4 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton, Naples.
Proceeds from the event will be dedicated to
the Thelma Hodges Friends of the University
Scholarship Fund.

The contributions of Thelma Hodges and
her late husband Earl Hodges are significant, spanning over 50 years
of service in Southwest Florida. Their generous gifts of time, effort
and funds have strengthened the business environment, the role of
charitable organizations and families.

The Hodges’ are perhaps best recognized as owners of the Earl G.
Hodges Funeral Chapel in Naples, which provided more than 40 years
of business and service to the local community. The Hodges have had
a number of other successful business interests both in and out of state
and have been actively involved in a countless number of local causes.

Originally from Lawrence,Massachusetts,Thelma worked for many
years as a Registered Nurse and was one of three original employees
at the Naples Community Hospital (hired three months prior to its
opening in 1956). Before coming to Naples, she was associated with the
Providence Lying-In Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. Thelma
met Earl during a blind date for the Junior Women’s Tinsel Ball in
Naples about six months after he moved to Naples.

After they married on June 26, 1958, Thelma proceeded to work
for the hospital for more than 20 years and at different times was
Supervisor of the operating room, central supply and emergency room.
Today, Thelma is still an advocate and active volunteer for Naples
Community Hospital. In recognition of her many years of service,
NCH presents the Thelma Hodges Nurse Mentor of the Year Award
annually to exceptional nurses at the hospital.

Over the years, Thelma has been a mentor to many. In fact, five
former employees of the Hodges Funeral Chapel went on to own their
own funeral homes.

Thelma was president of the Junior Women’s Club and Visiting
Nurses’ Council, as well as chairman of the Old Timers’ Association.
She has been a volunteer at NCH for over 40 years, spending many
years working at the White Elephant Thrift Store there.

In 2007, the Hodges’ made a significant contribution to what was
then known as International College, affecting the name change to
Hodges University, in honor of these incredible philanthropists and
humanitarians.

In August, 2012, the city of Naples proclaimed that month as “Earl
and Thelma Hodges Month” in honor of the recognition of the 50th
year of the founding of Hodges’ funeral home.

Earl Hodges died in October, 2013, but Thelma continues to
volunteer for meaningful causes in the community.

The Ritz-Carlton, Naples is located at 280 Vanderbilt Road. For
more information or to make reservations for the event, please call
239.598.6159.

104 Life in Naples | March 2015