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Helen Hodges, the last living founder of what is now Connections Plus Hospice + Healthcare, died on Feb. 1, leaving behind a legacy of compassion and dedication, and a lasting impact on health care in Rockbridge County. Her work helped shape end-of-life care in the area, ensuring that those facing their final days could do so with dignity and comfort.
Hodges was one of the four women — along with Marion Brown, Barbara Tucker and Charlotte Gunn — who set out in the late 1970s to bring hospice care to the community. They were a grassroots team with no paid staff and no established structure — just a vision of providing comfort and support for terminally ill patients and their families. By 1983, their efforts had formalized into an official organization, and in 1984, Rockbridge Area Hospice was officially chartered.
At first, the hospice was entirely volunteer-run, operating out of local community spaces. Hodges herself took on multiple roles, serving as a director, caregiver, and advocate. Even when the organization hired its first paid director in 1988, Thelma Wasson, Hodges remained deeply involved, serving as president of the hospice board and continuing to volunteer.
By 1991, Rockbridge Area Hospice became the 26th state-licensed hospice in Virginia, marking a major milestone in its growth. A few years later, in 1993, it launched its nursing program, providing professional medical care to those in need. That same year, it received Medicare certification, ensuring its services would be more widely accessible to patients.
Over the decades, Hodges remained a guiding force for the organization. She spoke at its 20th anniversary celebration in 2004 and was honored in 2011 when a plaque bearing the names of the hospice’s four founders was dedicated.
Hodges spearheaded a capital campaign to move the hospice into a new, permanent building on Myers Street in 2007. Judy Werner, the hospice’s executive director at the time of the move, emailed The News-Gazette to share some memories.
“Helen’s infectious smile, caring heart, love for our community, and philanthropic generosity touched my life in many ways,” Werner said.
“I never tired of hearing the ‘kitchen table story’ about how she, Marion Brown, Charlotte Gunn and Barbara Tucker started what is now known as Connections Plus in the kitchen over coffee. Helen would smile and tell us about their one patient and bake sales to support their efforts.”
In 2017, at the celebration of 10 years in its Myers Street location, she was once again recognized for her leadership and role in the 2007 capital campaign. A stone plaque in the hospice gardens now bears her name, a quiet but permanent reminder of the foundation she built.
Since its early days, hospice has expanded its services to include aromatherapy, music therapy, and specialized veteran care programs. In 2022, it received a prestigious fivestar rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, placing it among the top 10% of hospices nationwide. Just last year, it merged with Clifton Forgebased Mountain Regional Hospice and was recognized with a CAHPS Honors Award for excellence in patient care.
Werner expressed heartfelt gratitude for Hodges and the irreplaceable work she did to establish hospice — a sentiment undoubtedly shared by countless area citizens: “Thank you, Helen and friends, for giving the gift of hospice services to our community.”
