1944-1955

Dr. Rufus Dean Hodges was pastor of the First Baptist Church Dublin, GA from June 1944 to July 1955. He was born near Daisy, GA on May 7, 1890. His parents were Newton Brown Hodges and Cynthia Tippins Hodges were members of sturdy pioneer families of Evans County.  Dr. Hodges called to the ministry enrolled as a young man in Brewton Parker Institute. He graduated from Mercer University in the class of 1921. This institution conferred upon him the Doctor of Divinity Degree in 1940. He was described as one of the foremost students of the New Testament among Georgia Baptists.  Always interested in religious education, Dr. Hodges served as a trustee of Brewton Parker Institute and Tift College. He also served as Vice-President of the Georgia Baptist Convention.  Among the pastorates he served were the First Baptist Churches of Harrison, Wrightsville, Vienna, Tennille, Hartwell, Statesboro and Dublin.  He was also pastor of numerous rural congregations wherever he lived.  During his ministry at Dublin an educational building was erected facing Bellevue Avenue with the building committee composed of M. A. Chapman, Milo Smith, Sr. and T. A. Lane.  Members of the C. D. Graves Bible Class, of which Dr. Hodges was the teacher, gave him a trip to Copenhagen Denmark when the Baptist World Alliance met there in 1954.  The church on February 13, 1949 approved a motion by Dr. C. D. Graves authorizing the pastor, deacons, and other members to meet with representatives to consider advisability of asking Mercer University to establish a Theological Extension School in Dublin First Baptist Church, beginning March 14, 1949.  As a result the school was held for four years with Dr. Harold McManus, Mercer University, and Professor Henry Wommack and Dr. Hodges serving as instructors.  Dr. Hodges was interested in the church lawn and actually helped to plant, water and establish the beautiful church grounds.  Another outstanding project during Dr. Hodges pastorate at Dublin was the construction of Hillside Retreat, a recreational camp, on land donated to the church by the late B. F. Cochran.  Equipment and furnishings were contributed by various members as well as labor.  It contained a lake and all accommodations for an encampment.  After the well was dug for the lake, a group met to pray for a flow of water.  The next morning the sun rose and was shining on a flowing well.  An annual Training Union Encampment was held every summer from 1941 and continued to March 1951 when the property reverted to the Cochran Family.  Reverend Michael Guido, now of Metter, Georgia, who had previously conducted a youth revival at the First Baptist was the first to suggest a recreational camp and interested Mr. And Mrs. Guy Cochran in the idea. The encampment was a fruitful ministry and many young people turned to Christ and the church.  After Dr. Hodges retirement he continued his residence in Dublin and his work as an evangelist.  He became interim pastor for many churches during these years. Throughout his active years he participated in Schools of Religious Education, Pastors Schools, study courses, training sessions and associational work.  He was an active member of the Dublin and Laurens County Community. At one time he became Acting Chaplain of the Veterans Administration Hospital.  He held membership in the Rotary Club for many years.  Dr. Hodges and Annie Brinson Coleman were married August 30, 1916. Their children are Sarah; Mrs. George Greer, Jr. of Macon; Mary Alice; Mrs. J. Leighton Brown of Greenville, SC and Rev. Rufus Dean Hodges, Jr. of Ailey, Georgia.  Dr. Hodges died on June 20, 1972 at the Dublinaire Nursing Home.  Mrs. Hodges continued to make the Dublinaire her home until her death on October 13, 1974.