Frances Amanda Hill Hodges Mercer Anderson ended her earthly journey on Sunday, May 14, 2017. She began this journey as the youngest child of William Stephen and Addie Laura Ipock Hill on January 16, 1937 in Craven County, North Carolina. She was a graduate of Jones County High School and attended East Carolina University where she earned a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education and a Masters degree in Administration. At age 19 she married C.D. Hodges, Jr. and continued her education as they added three children, Sue, Linda and David, to their family. She worked as an elementary teacher and became principal of Oaks Road Elementary. In 1971 the family moved from Trenton, NC to Sparta, NC where Amanda taught elementary school. She attended Appalachian State University, earned her Masters degree in Reading, and began the Title 1 Reading Program at Sparta Elementary. In the early 1980's, Amanda moved to Mt. Airy, NC and then to Orchard Gap in Virginia. She was a hostess at Doe Run Lodge for many years and taught in Mt. Airy City Schools. During this time, she earned certification in the Academically/Intellectually Gifted program and taught AIG classes for Mt. Airy City Schools at Jones and Tharrington Elementary Schools. In 1987, Amanda married Forest Mercer, and in a few years, both retired to enjoy life on Willis Gap Mountain Road and camping on New River. In 2012, Amanda moved to independent living at Ridgecrest Retirement in Mt. Airy, NC and in 2014, married Ed Anderson. She moved to assisted living at Ridgecrest in 2015 where she lived until her death at Mountain Valley Hospice in Dobson, NC. Many heartfelt thanks to the dedicated staff of Ridgecrest and Hospice for their diligent, loving care.

Amanda touched the lives of so many people, students and adults alike. She inspired others as she set an example of kindness, determination, hard work, and high expectations, both personally and professionally. Her accomplishments were many and will live on as a testament of her dedication to bettering the lives of others. She will be greatly missed.

Amanda was predeceased by her parents, her three husbands, her brother, William Stephen Hill, Jr., and her niece, Anne Hill Davis. She is survived by three children and their spouses, Susan and Dennis Bennett of Glade Valley, NC, Linda Williams of Thermopolis, WY and David and Jeanie Hodges of Galax, VA, two stepdaughters Patti Zadrozny and Jennifer Vining, both of Staunton, VA, four grandchildren and spouses, Noelle and Zach Wolfe of State Road, NC, David Evans and Jade and Colin Young of Thermopolis, WY and Chad Hodges of Columbus, OH, two step grandchildren and spouse/fiancee, Joe and Meg Zadrozny of Chicago, IL and Katherine Zadrozny and Alex Todd of Minneapolis, MN, four great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild and a special niece and her spouse, Pam and Dexter Hawkins of Kinston, NC.

Funeral services will be held at Vaughan Guynn McGrady funeral chapel on Friday, May 19, 2017. Visitation will be from 12 - 1:30PM, followed by the funeral service at 2PM and interment at Bluemont Presbyterian Church. Vaughan-Guynn-McGrady Chapel is serving the family.