Martha Rena Matilda Hodges Hayes, 98, passed away Thursday, April 14, 2016 in Cleveland, TN. Rena was born April 27, 1917 in Grainger County, TN to the late James Andy and Ethyl Seymour Hodges.

Rena was a graduate of Carson Newman College in Jefferson City, TN. She was a retired school teacher from the Polk County School System where she taught first and second grades at Benton Elementary. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed working in her flower beds and vegetable garden.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde Hayes; brothers and wives, Edgar (Mary), Edward (Saravee), Conard (Aileen), Billie Lee, Charles (Ruby) and Ewin Hodges; sister-in-law, Katherine Hodges.

She is survived by her two children, C. Nicholas Hayes and his partner Karen Harper of Cleveland, TN and Patrice H. Norris and husband Bob D. of Woodstock, GA; grandson, Dustin N. Hayes; great grandsons, Brendan N. Hayes and Bronson Hayes of Cleveland, TN; brother; James Albert Hodges, Rutledge, TN. Several nieces, nephews, special sister-in-law Edna Dean Hodges (Ewin) of Rutledge, TN and extended family members and friends also survive.

Funeral services will be held at 6:00 p.m. Monday, April 18, 2016 at the Oakland Baptist Church, 15050 Lakeshore Drive, Rutledge, Grainger County, TN 37861with the Reverend Stacey Lawson of Oakland Baptist Church and Reverend Russell Sullivan of Cleveland, TN officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 2:00-5:00 p.m. Sunday, April 17, 2016 in the chapel of Higgins Funeral Home and from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Monday, April 18, 2016 at Oakland Baptist Church, Rutledge, TN.

Serving as pallbearers will be Alton Hodges, Ben Larrance, Billie Lee Hodges, Bryan Larrance, Carl Culbertson, David Hodges, Eddie Hodges and Glenn Hodges.

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Hayes family guestbook at www.higginsfuneral.com.

Visitation
Sunday, April 17th, 2016
02:00 am - 05:00 pm
Higgins Funeral Home
6439 US-411,
Benton TN 37307
Visitation
Monday, April 18th, 2016
04:00 am - 06:00 pm
Oakland Baptist Church
15050 Lakeshore Dr,
Rutledge TN 37861
Funeral Service
Monday, April 18th, 2016
06:00 am
Oakland Baptist Church
15050 Lakeshore Dr,
Rutledge TN 37861