Michael Hodges Memorial Fund

 

Michael Everett Hodges and I have been family since the Christmas Day in 2012 that we met at Bethlehem on Broad Street in First Congregational Church's sanctuary while he was waiting to go downstairs for the Christmas meal. My daughter and I sat with him for an hour and fell in love with his kind soul as much as we did his amazing art he was drawing right there that day. It would be over a year later that our paths would cross again and then we kept running into each other repeatedly and discovered we had so many mutual friends and acquaintances all over the world!

 

 We bonded over art, music, and life stories we shared. Despite a 20 year age gap we were kindred spirits. We cared for each other and wanted the best for each other. We both loved creating art and being advocates for those with mental health issues!

 

 Michael Hodges had his inner most issues that he rarely shared with anyone, but somehow my daughter and I got him to vent and talk about anything and everything. We spent many nights laughing until we cried and some crying until we had to laugh! 

 

I will miss his smile and sense of humor. I will miss our "real talks" and the support we gave each other. 

 

My heart also breaks for the Columbus Arts Community. Michael could be found at every Columbus Arts Festival supporting other artists and then sitting somewhere creating his own masterpieces. 

He was passionate about art, poetry, and music. I was blessed to have been able to spend several times over the past almost decade with him not just listening to music but discussing how certain songs evoked feelings and responses from us. We would read poems he and I had written and figure out so many of our emotions that sometimes were difficult to express in any other way. Then of course art which bonded us in the first place was always part of our almost daily communications.

I honestly don't believe Michael knew how phenomenal he was as an artist. Much of his art was very personal and connected back to his mother or to relationships he had with the people important to him. His process of making a collage and then the detailed drawing of the images he made was unique and beautiful.

 

We just always had a natural flow to our conversations that I only have with a few close friends. I cherish every memory. Michael Hodges made a positive impact on my life and his memory will live on in my heart.

Please help me to give Michael the going home celebration of life memorial he deserves. 

These funds along with those raised by other friends  and the sale of prints of his art will pay for the funeral home cremation services as well as help to hold two special memorial events so that we can accommodate all who wish to pay their respects while still having to be mindful of social distancing during the Covid19 pandemic.