Janette Dowdy Hodges

Janette (Jan) Dowdy Hodges went home to be with her Lord and Savior on June 24th, 2024. Jan was a wonderful daughter, wife, mother, sister, and grandmother. She will be dearly missed by those that experienced the joy of her friendship. Born in Albany, Georgia on May 28th, 1938, Janette and her twin sister Annette grew up with their parents until the death of her father. Their family then moved to Thomasville, Georgia. Jan attended Thomasville High School, where she met the love of her life, Jerry Hodges. They were high school sweethearts in the early 1950’s, and Janette was a cute majorette and Jerry was a captain on the football team. Her teenage years in Thomasville were full of dances, drive-in movies, football games, and fun times with friends. Jan went on to study to become a dental assistant, and after she married Jerry, they moved to Atlanta, Georgia where they started their family and she continued her career as a dental assistant. They raised two children, and were the best grandparents to their four granddaughters. They resided in Atlanta and Marietta for over 50 years before retiring and moving back to Thomasville to enjoy a slower pace and reconnecting with high school friends and family. Health issues in recent years caused them to move back to Atlanta to be near their children in 2021.

Janette and Jerry have always been involved with their church families, both at Thomasville First Baptist and Eastside Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia. Janette survived a serious cancer diagnosis in 2011; however, the lasting effects of cancer treatment took a toll on her health. Her strong faith in Jesus Christ and her devoted prayer life carried her through the last sweet years of time spent with her husband, children, and grandchildren. Janette loved to read and work in her garden, and she loved to feed and watch the birds in her backyard. She expressed her love for others through many home-cooked meals, and she took great pride in being a better fisherman than her sweetheart Jerry. 

Janette is preceded in death by her father Cecil Taft Dowdy, mother Georgia Lois Bridges Shiver, stepfather Grayson Heyman Shiver, and her twin sister Annette Floyd. She is survived by her loving husband Jerry Walker Hodges, her son Gregory Neil Hodges, her daughter Amanda Lane Johnson (Chris), her brother Allen Shiver (Robin), and her four granddaughters Janie Elizabeth Johnson, Kendall Johnson Graziani (Devin), Caroline Johnson Amason (Chandler) and Grace Katherine Johnson. Janette was truly loved by all, and will be missed until we join her in rejoicing in the presence of Jesus. 

A memorial service will be held at West Cobb Funeral Home and Crematory. All family and friends are welcome and appreciated.