Articles have been edited by Suzanne Forte for brevity and to avoid mention of living individuals.

 Eunice Gouge Hodges passed away August 1, 1994

Mrs. Eunice Hodges, 81, still recalls the day, almost 64 years ago, when she met her future husband, the late Harry Hodges, on a blind date.

"Harry", she says, "lived here in Loganville, and I lived in Lawrenceville.  We were introduced by a friend, and it seems that everything worked out fine.  We were married for 51 years before he died last year."

Mrs. Hodges is the daughter of the late James Gouge and Sara (Ewing) Gouge, Gwinnett County pioneers.  Her father ran a mercantile store in Lawrenceville and her mother raised six boys and two girls.

Mrs. Hodges husband was associated with the cotton industry.  After marrying they lived in Dothan and Enterprise, Alabama for a number of years before coming back to Loganville in 1929.  In 1951 they moved to St Petersburg, Fla., after Harry retired but missed Loganville very much and returned in 1968.

"Harry's office was where the Bank of Loganville is now," she says.  "People brought cotton samples to him and he examined them.  If he purchased it, he sold it to one of the two big mills in Monroe. 

Mrs. Hodges became a member of Loganville Christian Church in 1930.  She taught the Intermediate Sunday School class for 40 years and played the piano for many years.

"Some of the early preachers I remember were Duke Jones, Clarence Thomas and Dan Joyner, who was Harry's brother in law. 

Mrs. Hodges has stayed active all her life.  She was a member of Loganville's first community chorus which was organized in the 1940's.

"It was organized by Hortense Garrett" says Mrs. Hodges.  "She directed, accompanied and just did everything.  She is really a fine person and a hard worker."

"There's one thing I've remembered all these years," concludes Mrs. Hodges.  "My mother always said to just live the best you can because you are not promised another day.  I've kept that in mind all my life, and it has really helped me."