In the fall of 1971, my sister and I attended a gospel sing hosted by the Westside Baptist Church. After the sing, refreshments were served in the social hall.
There were many wonderful desserts, but there was one that was so delicious, we just had to find the cook who made it. It was a pie that had a white filling and blueberry or cherry pie filling on top.
We had both moved to Liberty County that same year and did not know many people. We asked some of the ladies about the pies. They directed us to a little lady with the loveliest white hair, twinkling eyes and a beautiful smile. We asked her about the pies and if she would share her recipe. She gladly told us exactly how to make the dessert using Cool Whip, cream cheese, powdered sugar, a baked pie crust with chopped pecans stuck in it and blueberry or cherry pie filling.
We wrote down the recipe and I kept it taped inside the kitchen cabinet for many years. That became a favorite of my mine. We didn’t even get the lady’s name, but I later discovered that she also could make the best red velvet cake anyone has ever tasted.
In August 1972, my husband Harlon DeLoach, became a full-time Hinesville policeman after serving in the reserves for months. He was put on the night shift and his riding partner was Assistant Chief Vivian Hodges. Hodges became like a father to Harlon. Today, Vivian’s son Julian follows in his father’s footsteps as the assistant police chief in Hinesville. Vivian Hodges and his family lived a short distance from the police station and many times at night he and my husband would swing by and Mrs. Hodges would fix both of them sandwiches.
One night, Harlon came home from work and told me Mrs. Hodges had fixed them fried pig ear sandwiches. I laughed because I had never heard of that. He said, “Hey, don’t knock it unless you’ve tried it. She boiled the pig ears until they were tender and salted, peppered and floured them. Then she deep-fried them until they were golden brown and drained them well. She toasted slices of bread, spread mayonnaise on them and put the fried ears in between the bread. They were delicious!”
Later, I tried making them for him but he said mine were not as good as the sandwiches Mrs. Hodges had made.
After working a few months at the police department, Harlon took me and our three children to visit Mr. Hodges and his wife. They invited us in and when I met Mrs. Eula Hodges, I immediately remembered her as the kind lady with the pretty white hair who had shared her pie recipe with me all those years ago! We became good friends and we visited many times over the next few years.
I found that she was a true Christian lady who taught Sunday school and loved her church work. One had to be around her only a short time to know that she was a wonderful person.
She shared her azaleas and other plants with me. I still have several clumps of oxalis that I originally got from her.
She was an excellent seamstress and stayed busy doing alterations for people. She sewed on many patches for the law officers and soldiers.
Mrs. Eula Hodges, 93, died Wednesday, leaving countless friends and relatives to remember her legendary kindness and generosity.
Mrs. Hodges was a native of Screven County but lived most of her life in Long and Liberty counties. Her funeral was yesterday at Gum Branch Baptist Church. She touched many lives and I am sure everyone who knew her has as many such beautiful, precious memories of her as I do.
There were many wonderful desserts, but there was one that was so delicious, we just had to find the cook who made it. It was a pie that had a white filling and blueberry or cherry pie filling on top.
We had both moved to Liberty County that same year and did not know many people. We asked some of the ladies about the pies. They directed us to a little lady with the loveliest white hair, twinkling eyes and a beautiful smile. We asked her about the pies and if she would share her recipe. She gladly told us exactly how to make the dessert using Cool Whip, cream cheese, powdered sugar, a baked pie crust with chopped pecans stuck in it and blueberry or cherry pie filling.
We wrote down the recipe and I kept it taped inside the kitchen cabinet for many years. That became a favorite of my mine. We didn’t even get the lady’s name, but I later discovered that she also could make the best red velvet cake anyone has ever tasted.
In August 1972, my husband Harlon DeLoach, became a full-time Hinesville policeman after serving in the reserves for months. He was put on the night shift and his riding partner was Assistant Chief Vivian Hodges. Hodges became like a father to Harlon. Today, Vivian’s son Julian follows in his father’s footsteps as the assistant police chief in Hinesville. Vivian Hodges and his family lived a short distance from the police station and many times at night he and my husband would swing by and Mrs. Hodges would fix both of them sandwiches.
One night, Harlon came home from work and told me Mrs. Hodges had fixed them fried pig ear sandwiches. I laughed because I had never heard of that. He said, “Hey, don’t knock it unless you’ve tried it. She boiled the pig ears until they were tender and salted, peppered and floured them. Then she deep-fried them until they were golden brown and drained them well. She toasted slices of bread, spread mayonnaise on them and put the fried ears in between the bread. They were delicious!”
Later, I tried making them for him but he said mine were not as good as the sandwiches Mrs. Hodges had made.
After working a few months at the police department, Harlon took me and our three children to visit Mr. Hodges and his wife. They invited us in and when I met Mrs. Eula Hodges, I immediately remembered her as the kind lady with the pretty white hair who had shared her pie recipe with me all those years ago! We became good friends and we visited many times over the next few years.
I found that she was a true Christian lady who taught Sunday school and loved her church work. One had to be around her only a short time to know that she was a wonderful person.
She shared her azaleas and other plants with me. I still have several clumps of oxalis that I originally got from her.
She was an excellent seamstress and stayed busy doing alterations for people. She sewed on many patches for the law officers and soldiers.
Mrs. Eula Hodges, 93, died Wednesday, leaving countless friends and relatives to remember her legendary kindness and generosity.
Mrs. Hodges was a native of Screven County but lived most of her life in Long and Liberty counties. Her funeral was yesterday at Gum Branch Baptist Church. She touched many lives and I am sure everyone who knew her has as many such beautiful, precious memories of her as I do.