Everyone who knew Jimmy – James Parrish Hodges III – will always remember his smile and the sheer joy he brought to those around him and the things he loved doing.  From an early age, he was a compassionate person, always sticking up for other kids.

Jimmy was a natural musician.  Even as a young child, he could play anything on the piano just by listening to it, exactly the way the original was played.  He also played guitar, drums, and even the trumpet.  When he was really little his favorite instrument was the cello and always yelled "Cello!" when he heard it in a song.  As a teenager, he once opened for Frankie Avalon in Las Vegas. 

Jimmy was a cowboy and taught his Mom how to lasso.  He enjoyed golfing with his Dad at East Lake. He loved playing on his flight simulator and one memorable birthday present was a flying lesson he took with his Grandfather. He was terribly afraid of fire and robots, though one of his early favorite pieces of clothing was a child’s fireman coat that he wore around the clock for what seemed like a year.  He played Tiny Tim in "A Christmas Carol" and memorized everybody else's lines – and also said them during the performances.  He loved watching the History channel and taught his 5th grade teacher all about World War I.  His favorite game was Apples to Apples which we always played when the power went out.  He wouldn't let anybody else sing "Zoom, Zoom, Zoom" when listening to "The Lion King."  His favorite restaurant was Jalisco’s in Peachtree Battle: Three tacos, just meat and cheese. He was fascinated by sharks and followed three baby blacktip sharks along the coastline on a visit to Guam. The kid could write too.  He wrote stories and songs and an amazing report on UFOs (another passion of his). Most of all, Jimmy loved for his Mom to read to him – Harry Potter, The Lightning Thief, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. He checked out the same books from the library over and over, particularly Arthur’s Halloween and Room on a Broom.

Jimmy was born in Atlanta on May 16, 1998 and was taken away much too soon.  While we know he is being watched over by our Blessed Mother in heaven, Jimmy will always remain in the hearts of his Mom, Tara Simpson Klodnicki; his Dad, James Parrish Hodges Jr.; his stepdad, Mike Klodnicki; his sister Alexandra Hodges and his nephew Lachlan; his sister Antonia Hodges King and her husband Ian King; his grandparents Doris and Harold Simpson and James Parrish Hodges Sr. and his wife Bonnie; and all those who knew him and whose lives were brightened by his smile.

Visitation for friends and family will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Christmas Day at Georgia Funeral Services, 4671 South Main Street, Acworth, Georgia 30101.  A Funeral Mass celebrating Jimmy’s life will be at 10 a.m. on December 26 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 87 Lacy Street, Marietta, Georgia 30060.  A Celebration of Life will also be held at 12:30 p.m. on January 13 at the Ansley Golf Club Ballroom.  If you would like to make a donation in Jimmy’s memory, please direct it to St. Joseph Catholic School where it will be used for scholarship for children who desire a Catholic education but can’t afford it and to help students struggling with learning disabilities.  Condolences can be left at www.GeorgiaFuneralCare.com