2008 Woodie Awards
101-year-old woman speaks to Delta students about her life
Lola Hodge talks about family gatherings, her marriage, and gives advice on life
Karyn Gilbert
Issue date: 10/8/04 Section: News
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They have been reading "Tuesdays with Morrie," a book about life, says Nugent. Morrie provides Mitch Alban his wisdom, which reminded Clark about his grandmother.
Nugent said that once her class found out she was over 100, they just had to meet her. Clark had mentioned to Nugent that Hodge was excited to speak with the class.
"She jumped on it," said Nugent. "She's very excited and she got her hair done."
Hodge came from a family of six children, where family togetherness means the world.
When asked if she would rather be young now, than back when she did, she was a girl. Hodge still her generation.
"There's a lot of divorce," said Hodge. "My family was always together, and now families are so separate."
Hodge noted that being with her family means everything to her. She could remember when she was around 82 she traveled to Texas, where she was born, raised and married at 21, for a family reunion, and that it was wonderful to see everyone.
"Being the oldest child, I was always taking care of them (her siblings)," said Hodge.
Today she is the last living relative of her immediate family, even though she was the oldest. Her family has all lived long life spans, with her mother passing at 96, and her sister at 97.
"Everyone had a good ripe age," said Clark.
Hodge moved to California at age 23, and has been living in Stockton since 1934.
"It's been a very good life in Stockton," said Hodge.
She never gave birth to any children with her husband, but adopted two, which she noted was much easier back then, than it is now.
"There's so much paperwork that has to be done," said a student.
She lives in the same house her husband and she built years ago, with her grandson Clark, 59, where she cooks, cleans and takes care of him.
"If she'd let me, I'd take care of her, but she won't," said Clark.