The Legacy of A Godly Man

Grady Lee Hogue was born in Cullman County, AL on June 27th, 1908 in a Log Cabin that belonged to his grandfather. He was the 5th of 14 children and they were share crop farmers that moved from farm to farm. He never finished High School, because he was brought home to help with the farm and his siblings. He married Margaret Lucille Sinks, when she came to his church in Missouri and he was a Youth Pastor. They married and had four daughters, Grada, twins, Marilyn and Carolyn and Beth. They pastored churches in Illinois, Alabama, Missouri, and Indiana. He LOVED to sing and had perfect pitch. He sang in Quartets and began learning music using "shape Notes". To Margaret, he was a loving, husband and spiritual leader of their home. To the girls, he was a daddy, that went all the time, and they would hide in the back of his car and beg to go with him, when he visited people in their homes to pray. To my husband and I, he was a dear Grandfather, that left a very very rich heritage of the Lord. He didn't have many worldly possessions and they never owned a home. They sometimes earned $5 a week for preaching, during the depression. Sometimes their earnings came in chickens and vegetables.

At the age of 98 1/2, Grandpa Hogue went to heaven meeting Jesus and Grandma, last Wednesday. He looked forward for that heavenly reward, and now he is reaping his rewards. We drove up to Indiana, to be with family, be there for his funeral and celebrate his life. There were some amazing things that happened during that time. The night of Grandpa's passing, my father in law, was staying in a hotel, in the same town he was born in and close to where he pastored in Alabama. Also, my husband's cousin's little girl called him "Grandpa Hug". Her name is Abby and she is three years old.



The morning that "Grandpa Hug" had passed away, they hadn't received the phone call yet. She sat up in bed and said the following:

"MOMMY! Grandpa Hug is chasing rainbows and playing with Jesus. He is all better and his boo-boo's are all better."

Eventhough, Grandpa wasn't the man we have known, the last few years, we loved him dearly. BUT, you have to admit that what Abby said, and how she gave a word picture just got to us.

I will leave you with a final quote from his biography that he wrote for his children in 1993 as a gift. (what a gift it was too)

"Most of the ministers our age have passed on to their eternal resting place where all are striving to go. My greatest desire is to love men, preach the gospel, see sould redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, and reach that final resting place. David said: "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness."

Rev. Grady Hogue

He accomplished more than this goal. I can only hope to be able to strive for that. This is the legacy that we have been given and for that, we are forever thankful.

Today in our narsassistic society, alot of people are so focused on themselves and their immediate family. They do not focus on Generational Paths. They do not understand that whatever they decide today, will affect not only them or their children, but their grandchildren, and on down the line.

Praise the Lord for giving us such a Legacy of a Godly Man in Grandpa Hogue ("Grandpa Hug"). We will miss him dearly, but are forever greatful for the deep impression he has had on our lives, our children's lives and our grandchildren's lives.

Southern Belle