Julius Hodges Obituary

Mr. Julius "Top Cat" Council Hodges, Jr., of Tampa, FL was called home to the Lord on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, March 26, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 3005 E. Ellicott Street, Tampa, FL 33610 with Clergy Bruce Bryant, officiating. MASK RECOMMEND. Interment will follow in Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Julius was born in Tampa, FL on December 4, 1945, to the late Essie Mae Riley. He was educated in the public schools of Hillsborough County and graduated from Middleton High School in 1964. He faithfully served his country in the United States Army from 1966 until he was Honorably Discharged in 1969. He was employed as an Auto Mechanic with Hillsborough County Emergency Medical Services for many years until his retirement in 2002. He was a devoted, caring, and loving husband to his wife of 46 years, supportive father, and proud Papa. Julius was a faithful member of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Deborah J. Hodges; mother, Essie Mae Riley; father, Rudolphus A. Riley, Sr.; and brother, Kenneth Council.
He leaves to cherish his precious memory: 2 loving daughters, Keysia Griffin and Angelia Stevenson; grandson, Gabrial Stevenson, Jr.; granddaughters, Jocelyn (Feross) Shalabi and Jessica Griffin; great-grandchildren, Mohamad Feross Shalabi, Malek William Feross Shalabi, Levi Shalabi, and Sylvia and Londyn Wainwright; sisters, Belevan Council, Paulette Parks, Betty J. Canady of St. Petersburg, FL, and Irish (Steven) Warnock of Foster, GA; brothers, Paul (Debra) Council, Ronald (Lunetta) Riley of Panama City, FL, Rudy Riley, Jr. of Decatur, GA, Robert Riley, and Ray Anthony (Pekela) Riley of Jacksonville, FL; step-mother, Claudia Riley; sisters-in-law, Constance Faulk of Detroit, MI, and Lillian Camille of Winter Haven, FL, brothers-in-law, Jesse J. Smith of Allenhurst, GA, Milton (Emma) Swanigan, Jr. of Loves Park, IL, and Gregory Swanigan of Kansas City, KS; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
The visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 25, 2022, at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue, Tampa, FL, 33606. MASK RECOMMENDED.
To send flowers to Julius' family, please visit our floral store.