Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Hodge Earns Degree

Delores Hodge of Gurdon was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters degree from Arkansas Baptist College on Saturday, May 12, during the college's 117th commencement exercises.

Hodge is the first female to receive this honor in the 21st century from Arkansas Baptist College, located in Little Rock.

Hodge is a native of Marshall, Texas. She holds a bachelor's degree from Bishop College and a master's of science degree from Texas Southern University in Houston.

She has worked on further studies at Henderson State University, Ouachita Baptist University and the University of Oklahoma.

Hodge is a retired reacher of 30 years with the Okolona and Gurdon School districts and she is the founder and director of Clark County Youth Development Center in Gurdon. She currently administers the home instruction program for preschool youngsters (HIPPY) programs for Clark and Pike Counties and also the Gurdon rural family friends program.

Hodge is a member of Mt. Canaan Baptist Church and serves as president of Southwest District Women's Auxiliary, which is comprised of 65 churches in Saline, Garland, Clark, Hot Spring, Nevada, Hempstead, Miller, Pike and Howard Counties.

She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, she serves on the board of directors for Happyland Childcare Center in Arkadelphia, and also the board of directors for Southwest District Association.