A&T Mourns Death of Student

Today the North Carolina A&T Student Government Association marks the passing of a fellow Aggie, amazing person and a wonderful friend. Derek Hodge, a 21-year-old student here at North Carolina A&T, has been removed from our physical presence. He leaves an amazing legacy of friendship, love and Aggie Pride that will forever remain with each life that he touched.

Derek was an amazing person with such a matchless presence. He had a charismatic persona and was a passionate student; he was amazingly distinct and full of character. Always willing to lend a helping hand, Derek defied all odds and tackled every obstacle. He had a genuine concern for others and always put them before himself.

As the Hodge family, and numerous students on our campus, mourn Derek’s passing, the entire student body extends thoughts of condolences and solidarity. Their loss is our loss. Their grief is our grief. Every student mourns the loss of their admired colleague.

To feel Derek’s presence, we need only look around and see the impact that he left on so many of us. His legacy will live forever, his presence will be ingrained in our hearts, and his friendship will never be forgotten. We should not begin to describe his life simply because he has passed; for his life, through others, has just begun.

Marcus R. Bass, President
Student Government Association
North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University

Aggies remember life of slain student By Ryan Seals
Staff Writer
Thursday, May. 1, 2008 3:00 am
GREENSBORO — His smile. The laughs he shared. The deep bonds and the memories he created.

Derek Carl Eaddy Hodge II will be remembered for those reasons and more by the people on the N.C. A&T campus.

But it's the love he had — for his faith, family, friends and university — that identified the 21-year-old student, speakers said at a memorial Wednesday evening.

The Aggie family packed an auditorium for an hourlong memorial to share memories of Hodge and to remind one another not to take any day for granted.

Hodge died from a single gunshot wound early Saturday morning inside his Kay Street home. Police have no suspects and no motive in the crime.

"He was a good person and a good student," said Korey Reynolds, who met Hodge in a class three years ago. "He was someone you could depend and rely on."

Christle Allen, a junior at Winston-Salem State, said Hodge was a flirt. They met at a football game at their high school in Raleigh.

The last time they spent together was at a New Year's Eve party, where Allen was caught in a photo giving Hodge a friendly New Year's kiss.

"I got in trouble for that kiss," Allen said. She was dating someone else, but she still has the photo.

Hodge came to A&T from Wendell, 10 miles east of Raleigh, to be with his cousin Charles Hodge and to uphold a family connection with the university.

"He wanted to be a businessman, but now he is doing his business for God," Charles Hodge said. "He lived a good life and was raised by a good father."

Family members said they hoped Derek Hodge's death would serve as a reminder to students to get their lives together and to cherish those they hold dear.

"Life's too short. You are not promised a tomorrow," said K. Johnson, another cousin and a 2003 A&T graduate.

"Don't let anything derail you" of your goals, Johnson said, "because he would not let anything derail him."

Anyone with information about his death is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 373-1000.

GREENSBORO — Students will gather today to remember an N.C. A&T student who was shot and killed in his home early Saturday.

Meanwhile, neighbors remain fearful as police try to find out who killed Derek Carl Eaddy Hodge II, and why.

"I don't know the motive," said Capt. Janice Rogers, commander of the Greensboro Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division. "He seemed like a good kid."

They found him after responding to a suspicious activity call at his Kay Street home.

In Hodge's neighborhood, three miles north of A&T's campus, a neighbor said she didn't think anyone living nearby would sleep well for a month.

The neighbor asked not to be named because, without knowing why someone killed Hodge, she didn't want to draw the killer's attention.

The neighbor said Hodge was a quiet young man who hadn't lived in the neighborhood long enough to get to know people well.

Hodge was a sophomore and a native of Wendell, 10 miles east of Raleigh in Wake County, according to a university spokeswoman. Hodge had not declared a major, she said.

Hodge's death marks Greensboro's seventh homicide this year.
Anyone with information about the incident can call Crime Stoppers at 373-1000.

Contact Sonja Elmquist at 373-7090 or sonja.elmquist@news-record.com

MEMORIAL sERVICE

The N.C. A&T Student Government Association 2008-2009 invites the Aggie family to a memorial service for Derek Hodge at 5 p.m., Wednesday, April 30th, New Classroom Building Auditorium (Benbow Road, near the intersection of Sullivan Street, across from Aggie Stadium). Hodge was a sophomore from Wendell, NC.

Please note the A&T Counseling Services Office is available to provide counseling if you need support.
Feel free to stop by 109 Murphy Hall (8 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) or just call and talk with a counselor at 334-7727.

A&T MOURNS DEATH

Derek Hodge, 1986-2008

CONDOLENCES

message FROM sga PRESIDENT

MEMORIAL sERVICE

Funeral/visitation