The Rev. Eric Payton Hodge, 50, of Delta passed away Sunday, April 6, 2014, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born June 12, 1963, in Tullahoma, Tenn., to the late James Payton and Eleanor Anne Jones Hodge.

After graduating from Tullahoma High School, Eric obtained a bachelor of science degree from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. He later received a master of divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.

He married Connie Lynn O'Neal on May 18, 1985.

Over the years Eric served several churches that included Longview Baptist Church in Shelbyville, Tenn., Grace Baptist Church in Tullahoma, Powell's Chapel Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, Oakland Baptist Church in Glencoe, Ky., Boynton Valley Baptist Church in Manchester, Tenn., and First Baptist Church in Delta.

He also served 20 years in various positions with Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts starting in Manchester. He was later scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 51 in Chaffee, Mo. He was a member of the Delta Fire Department Board and Missouri Disaster Relief Team.

Survivors include his wife, Connie of the home; two sons, Connor Payton Hodge and Adam Alexander Hodge of Delta; a daughter, Jamie Elizabeth Hodge of Delta; and two sisters, Clair Ellen Hodge of Nashville, Tenn., and Sarah Lynn Hodge Morrison of Franklin, Tenn.

He was also preceded in death by a sister, Rebecca Anne Hodge Nelson.

Friends may call after 5 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. until time of service Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Delta.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the church. The Rev. Jon Sedgwick will officiate, assisted by Tim Lipe. Burial will be at 4 p.m. Thursday at Blanche Cemetery in Blanche, Tenn., with the Rev. Jason Parks officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to First Baptist Church Mission Fund in Delta.

Online condolences may be made at amick-burnettfuneralchapels.com.