Carlyle Seymour Hodges

Ms. Carlyle Seymour Hodges, long-time resident of Carolina Meadows in Chapel Hill, NC, died, May 9, 2024. A native of Columbia, SC, where she spent her early years, she moved with her parents, James Carl, and Sadie Hook Seymour, to Wilmington, NC in 1941. 

A talented pianist, she accepted a 4-year National Honor Scholarship to Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. Active in student life, she was elected to Chi Omega, was a member of the Chapel Choir, served as president of the Phi Society and of Phi Beta Music Fraternity and as vice-president of Libra scholastic honorary. She chaired the Publications Union, participated in productions at the Annie Russell Theatre, and was elected to Pi Kappa Lambda national music honor society. She was a recipient of the Algeron Sidney Sullivan Scholarship, which honors undergraduates for outstanding character and scholastic achievement, and graduated from Rollins at the age of 20 with a Bachelor of Music Degree and the General Reeves scholarship, which honored the graduate with the highest cumulative grade point average.

Moving to New York City to complete the Master of Arts in Music and Music Education Degree at Teachers College, Columbia University, she resumed music studies with her long-time mentor, renowned teacher, Edwin Hughes. She was presented in a Town Hall concert by the National Guild of Piano Teachers, was a performing member of the Leschetizky Society, concertized frequently in the greater metropolitan area in addition to performing on both WNYC’s Young Artists and American Music Concert Series, and began a successful teaching career. She served on the Board of Adjudicators for annual auditions of the National Guild of Piano Teachers and, in association with composer, Henry Cowell, taught Creative Music in the Childrens Theatre program of Adelphi College. 

In 1951, she married pianist, Ronald Gulick Hodges of NJ, and NYC. They relocated to South Hadley, MA when he accepted a faculty position in the music department of Mount Holyoke College. While their two children were very young, Mrs. Hodges volunteered in the musical activities of the Village Congregational Church, as a member of the Junior League of Holyoke, she served as business manager for the Bargain Box-the profits from which support the community projects of the organization. 

Mrs. Hodges’ long association with Mount Holyoke College began as accompanist for classes of Professor Helen Rogers, former member of Martha Graham Company who was an influential leader in the movement to preserve Graham’s choreography on film and in the development of Labanotation. Joining the piano faculty of the college in 1964, Mrs. Hodges continued an active schedule of solo and ensemble performances. She retired as Professor Emeritus of Music at Mount Holyoke College in 1990.

Mrs. Hodges is survived by her son, Ron Hodges (Laura) of Montgomery Village, MD; daughter, Elizabeth Hodges of Puerto Rico; grandchildren, Rosa Delgado, Amalia Conant, and Zachary Hodges.

The family requests that memorial contributions be sent to the Carolina Children’s Home, P.O. Box 4465, Columbia, SC 29204, or a charity of one’s choice.