Nelda Lee (Hodges) Hurd, 88, of Independence, MO went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, August 6, 2023, at Jackson Creek Memory Care, Independence, MO.

Nelda was born in Elizabeth, Arkansas, the daughter of Robert and Gertrude (Roberts) Hodges.  She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Lilburn, her parents, her sister Evelyn (Hodges) Trivitt, her brothers, James Hodges, Bob Hodges, Alan Hodges and great-grandson Landon Hurd. Her survivors include son Mark Hurd, wife Margie of Watkins, CO, daughter Michelle “Mushie” Bunney, husband Frank of Buckner, MO, grandson Joshua Hurd, wife Kendra of Watkins, CO, great-grandsons Hunter Hurd and Brycin Hurd, brothers Bill Hodges, Wally Hodges (Alice), Leon Hodges (Joyce), sisters Lena (Hodges) Barker, Roberta (Hodges) Cable (Edward) and many nieces and nephews.

After graduating Viola High School in Arkansas, Nelda came to Kansas City to work.  She attended church regularly where she met her husband and they started their life together. In her early years of marriage and children, she was a homemaker and Baptist preacher’s wife, as well as a member of the gospel singing group, The Sincerity Singers, whom she traveled the country with on many weekends holding revivals and gospel concerts.  She was always involved in church as a pastor’s wife, teaching Sunday School, being the church treasurer, leading the youth group, working in the church booth at Santa-Cali-Gon.  If the church doors were open, she was there! On occasion she worked at Dr. Edward Cable’s dental office, had an in-home daycare for several years and worked at HyVee. Her life was God and her family.  She enjoyed traveling and singing and loved her only grandchild, Joshua.  Her last trip to Colorado, she was blessed to see her great-grandson Hunter born. In addition to singing, some of her hobbies were ceramics, painting, playing games, collecting dolls, ducks and horse figurines.  She loved Elvis and the Kansas City Royals! She was a breast cancer survivor but succumbed to the horrible disease, dementia.  Her greatest joy was for others to see Jesus in her.

Visitation will be at 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 10, 2023 at Royer’s New Salem Funeral Home, 1823 N. Blue Mills Rd., Independence, MO 64058.

Funeral Services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 11, 2023 at Royer’s New Salem Funeral Home, 1823 N. Blue Mills Rd., Independence, MO 64058.

A Funeral Service will also be held Monday, August 14, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at Landmark Missionary Baptist Church in Elizabeth Arkansas. Burial will be in Elizabeth Cemetery in Elizabeth, Arkansas.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the BMA Missions Association, the American Cancer Society or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Obituary submitted by the family.

Arrangements: Royer’s New Salem Funeral Home Independence, MO (816) 796-8600