Sara Margaret Hodge

Sara Margaret Hodge, age 89, died on December 5, 2022. She was born May 25, 1933 in Brunswick, Georgia to Matthias Minnie Sappenfield, Jr. and Norma Jane Walker Sappenfield. She married David Charles Hodge in Brunswick on June 6. 1957.

Sara Margaret has been involved in music her entire life. She always said she was born on the organ bench as her mother was a church organist and piano teacher and played up to the last moment. Sara Margaret began taking piano lessons at the age of five and went on to major in piano and minor in organ at the Bessie Tift College. She continued her music; however, she was persuaded by mentors to pursue a career in school music.

While at Peabody Conservatory, she took a position as organist at Seventh Baptist Church, where she met and later married David Hodge, whose father was the Minister of Education. While David continued his education, Sara Margaret traveled with him and taught music in schools in Texas and New York before settling in Harford County Maryland where she taught music in Churchville Elementary School until her retirement in 2001.

In 1982, Sara Margaret was named Maryland Music Educator of the year. She received many honors, awards and accolades that included a citation from the Governor of Maryland.

Mrs. Hodge served over 50 years as an organist and choir director in Harford County churches. She retired as organist from Churchville Presbyterian Church in 2017. Everywhere she went she was greeted and beloved by those who knew her from schools and churches.

Mrs. Hodge was predeceased by her husband David in 2017 and is survived by her brother-in-law, Dr. Warren Hodge and wife Irene, a nephew, Wesley Hodge, who all reside in Florida and a niece, Dana Thrower, who resides in Alabama.

Memorials honoring Sara Margaret in lieu of flowers, may be sent to Churchville Presbyterian Church at 2844 Churchville Road, Churchville, MD 21028.