Rev. Wilma Williams

CAIRO, Ill. -- The Rev. Wilma M. Hodges-Williams, 97, of Cairo slipped the surly bonds of Earth to touch the face of God on Sunday, June 4, 2017, at her home.

She was born Sept. 29, 1919, in Holcomb, Missouri, to Liston and Jennie Crippen Hodges.

Wilma pastored Assembly of God Church for over 60 years, and was the oldest living female clergy in Assembly of God. She frequently played the organ and sang as an evangelist all over the world. She has taken her final flight -- destination Heaven.

Her hobbies were anything that involved church functions.

Wilma is survived by her brother, Robert S. Hodges; niece, Wilma Kathleen Hodges Hood; nephews, David L. Hodges and Robert G. Hodges; her sister-in-law, Opal E. Hodges; and numerous other nieces, nephews, friends and other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Nellie Frey, Rossie Bingaman and Margaret Tibbs; two brothers, Herbert Hodges and Arthur Hodges; two great-nephews, Danny Lee Hood Jr. and Clinton Matthew Hood; and a nephew, Gene Arthur Hodges.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Mount Zion Baptist Church, formerly Assembly of God Church, at 37th and Elm streets in Cairo.

Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the church, with Dr. Larry L. Potts and the Rev. Anderson officiating. Interment will follow at Green Lawn Memorial Gardens in Villa Ridge, Illinois.

Memorials may be made to the family or Mighty Rivers Youth Group, and will be accepted at the funeral home and at the church.

To leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.crainsonline.com.

Crain Funeral Home in Cairo is in charge of arrangements.