BEAUFORT, SC — Helena House, 1624 W Paris Ave, Port Royal, SC. Melissa Gail Stokes Hodsdon died on February 1, 2016. Melissa Gail Stokes was born July 12, 1936 at her family home to Pastor Henry J. and Mary Beth Stokes of Pembroke, GA. Gail grew up in Georgia; Pembroke 1936-40, Lewisville 1940-42, Monroe 1942-46; and in Knoxville, TN. She attended the Sophie Newcomb College of Tulane University in New Orleans. In December 1955 Gail married John Richard Staley, Jr. of Chicago, and they subsequently lived in Atlanta; Greenville, SC; Bethesda and Rockville, MD; and Kansas City, MO. She was a homemaker and mother of four children. In 1975, Gail moved to the Brunswick area of Maine. She graduated from Southern New Hampshire University in 1981 with a BS Cum Laude in General Management. She served for many years as Brunswick’s Town Clerk; was a member of the New England Town Clerks Association, and was its President for 2 years. In 1984, she married William (Bill) Hodsdon, a father of three. In 1997, Gail and Bill left coastal living in Maine and retired to the costal neighborhood of Cottage Farm in Beaufort, SC. Gail was an accomplished lifelong pianist who enjoyed playing for church, community events, family and friends. She taught piano to many and was a member of the Beaufort Area Music Teachers Association for more than 15 years. Gail was also a member of P.E.O. International since 1959 (a Golden Girl) and a member of Chapter AM in Beaufort. Gail and Bill were also founding and active members of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Known to her grandchildren as GiGi, she enjoyed cooking, entertaining, the beach, sailing and visiting with family and friends. Gail leaves her husband, seven children, two sisters and 12 grandchildren. Children: Melissa Staley of Gladstone, MO; John Staley III and wife Kristina, Dallas, TX; Robert Staley and wife Sharon, Larkspur, CA; Charles Staley, Austin, TX; Linda Rogers and husband Don, of Woodbridge, VA; Jennifer Hodsdon of Portland, ME; and Krista Hodsdon of Brunswick, ME. Siblings: Beth Stokes Clinton and husband Jarrett; and Sharon Kilfeather, all of Atlanta. Her brother H.J (Jere) Stokes died in 2005. A memorial will be held at 4:00 pm on Saturday February 6 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church located in Union Baptist Church located at 1004 11th Street, Port Royal, South Carolina 29936. Donations may be made in Gail Hodsdon’s name to: PEO’s Cottey College, Office of Institutional Advancement, 1000 West Austin Blvd., Nevada, MO 64772-2790; or the Alzheimer’s Family Services of Greater Beaufort, 2266 Boundary Street, Suite # 209, Beaufort, SC 29902.

Anderson Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the family. (www.andersonfuneralhomebeaufortsc.com)

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