Rev. Phillip L. Hodge, Sr.

Rev. Phillip L. Hodge, Sr. was born on October 13, 1948, in Oberlin, OH, to the late Rev. W.J. Hodge and Marian T. Hodge. At the age of 6, Phillip accepted Christ at Diamond Hill Baptist Church, Lynchburg, VA under the leadership of his father. He met and married Sharon D. Mitchell while attending college. To this union, 3 children were born.

An ordained minister, he served as Senior Pastor of Eastview Baptist Church, Madisonville, KY for 15 years and the Antioch Baptist Church, Beaumont, TX for nearly 3 years. Rev. Hodge earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Music from Hampton Institute, Hampton University in Hampton, VA. His Masters of Science in Community Development was earned at the University of Louisville in Louisville, KY. Pastor Hodge did further study at Simmons Bible College, Southern Baptist Seminary, and Western Kentucky University. Prior to entering the ministry, Rev. Hodge was employed as a counselor in the Office of Black Affairs at the University of Louisville for four years where he assisted in the recruitment and retention of minority students. He was the Project Director of the NAACP Rebound Program for 3 years. This pilot program was designed to assist ex-offenders returning to society. Along with being a full-time shepherd of his flock at Fifth Street Baptist Church for the past 31 years, early on he worked for the Volunteers of America for several years.

After accepting the call into the ministry, Rev. Hodge continued to render his special gifts and talents to the community. For three years, he was an Employment Counselor in the Personnel Department of the City of Louisville, KY. Rev. Hodge was a Teacher’s Assistant at Waddill Elementary School and the Counselor/Coordinator for the Educational Talent Search Program at Madisonville Community College. Rev. Hodge organized and presented educational and career workshops to economically deprived/traditionally under-represented students. At the time of his call to Antioch, Rev. Hodge was serving as Associate Director of Financial Aid for the college.

Many ministries were either started or revived by Rev. Hodge during his tenure at Fifth Street Baptist Church such as: The Support Ministry, Clothing Closet and Food Pantry, Phillip L. Hodge Ensemble, Men’s Ministry, Women’s Ministry, Men of Standard Choir (Joyful Noise), Children’s Church, Study of Purpose Driven Life, Team Leadership, the Marian T. Hodge Center for Academic Excellence, Young Adult Bible Study, Youth Connect and Psalm 37:25 (Seniors).

Rev. Hodge has been a member of the NAACP, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Blacks in Higher Education, YMCA, General Association of Kentucky Baptist, President of First District Sunday School & BTU, Congress of Christian Education and Youth Director for the Progressive National Baptist Convention.

He is preceded in death by parents W.J. and Marian Hodge and daughter in love Michelle.

Visitation with family and friends will be from 5-8 p.m. Friday, August 7, 2026, at his church, Fifth Street Baptist Church, 1901 West Jefferson St.

Funeral services will be on Saturday, August 8, at the church at 11 a.m.  Burial will take place in the Cave Hill Cemetery.

Please join us in keeping the Hodge Family in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.

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