1949
Nelvin
2015
Nelvin Conner
July 29, 1949 — March 4, 2015
Nelvin Marie Lovely Conner, affectionately known to her friends and family as “Rie”, was born the eldest child of Baby Ruth and Richard Earl Lovely (both preceded in death) on July 29, 1949 in Karnack, TX.
A proud Texan, raised in West Dallas and OaK Cliff, she graduated from L.G. Pinkston High School in 1967 where she was known as the “pretty skinny girl.”
Receiving Christ at an early age, Rie was a member of Believers Tabernacle in West Dallas where she sang in the choir and spent time with her adopted mother, Gwen “Didder” Goss, but mostly made sure her two children were not just present but participating in nearly every service. To know her is to know frankness and laughter. Her response, to her son Michael singing his first solo was, “please don’t embarrass me like that anymore!” Later she became a member of Joyful Tabernacle under the leadership of Pastors Sheila and James Garithell Goss, who she considered her “real” sister and brother. In Rie’s words, “I’m not a ‘member’ of Joyful, THAT’S MY FAMILY!” She was preceded in death by her brother and best friend, Clarence Arthur Lovely.
Nelvin Lovely married William Earl Hodge (preceded in death) and achieved her first proudest achievements, children Michael and Traci Hodge. Later in life, she married Kenneth Conner and Lavesta Starks (both preceded in death).
Rie’s career as a Purchasing and Clerical Specialist spans 30 years. Throughout her career she was a dedicated employee with Texas Instruments. Methodist Hospital and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.
Rie was known for her creative flair, often combined with her compassion and interest in others. Once she considered you a friend, she used her creativity to remind you of how much she loved you “more!” She got great pleasure from creating exquisite individualized handmade greeting cards for all occasions. She loved Christmas, birthdays, Thanksgiving, Easter… any occasion that gave her reason to play with color, make cards, phone calls, or buy and create gifts and of course, party!
Another thing you couldn’t miss about Rie was her love of butterflies. It was a motivational quote that sparked her loved for the beautiful insect. Whether it was a butterfly broche seeming to rest on the shoulder of her cute “Sunday” suits or a giant butterfly hanging from her bedroom ceiling, Rie adored butterflies.
“She always said and showed me by example, Do what you gotta do to take care of home YOURSELF! Any and every time you get knocked down, you get your butt up!”
- Traci Hodge
“My mother always told me to always try to be a blessing more than a burden to others. She would constantly say, I don’t wanna be a burden to nobody. I want people to remember me as a blessing, not a burden!”
- Michael Hodge
Nelvin is survived by the joy of her life and second proudest achievements, granddaughters, Sydni Nicole Hodge-Bell, Kayci Nicole Hodge grandson, Ayvri Nicqai Hodge; baby brother whom she always thought of as her first child, Rev. Kenneth E. Lovely and sister-in-law Katrina Lovely; a beautiful niece, Ashley Jones; beloved nephews, Terrance Ballard and Bryan Ballard; and the joys of her life, eldest son, Michael X.D. Hodge and daughter Traci Nicole Hodge; a host of cousins, aunts, adopted family and friends too numerous to list.
It is certain that Rie awaits us for the Holy Reunion and is probably occupying herself playing bingo on her heavenly smart phone, wearing out the ears of the other angels, proudly bragging on her children and grandchildren and entertaining the heavenly hosts by dancing and singing “don’tcha wish your girlfriend was hot like me!”
Please leave condolences for the family of Nelvin Marie Lovely Conner.
A proud Texan, raised in West Dallas and OaK Cliff, she graduated from L.G. Pinkston High School in 1967 where she was known as the “pretty skinny girl.”
Receiving Christ at an early age, Rie was a member of Believers Tabernacle in West Dallas where she sang in the choir and spent time with her adopted mother, Gwen “Didder” Goss, but mostly made sure her two children were not just present but participating in nearly every service. To know her is to know frankness and laughter. Her response, to her son Michael singing his first solo was, “please don’t embarrass me like that anymore!” Later she became a member of Joyful Tabernacle under the leadership of Pastors Sheila and James Garithell Goss, who she considered her “real” sister and brother. In Rie’s words, “I’m not a ‘member’ of Joyful, THAT’S MY FAMILY!” She was preceded in death by her brother and best friend, Clarence Arthur Lovely.
Nelvin Lovely married William Earl Hodge (preceded in death) and achieved her first proudest achievements, children Michael and Traci Hodge. Later in life, she married Kenneth Conner and Lavesta Starks (both preceded in death).
Rie’s career as a Purchasing and Clerical Specialist spans 30 years. Throughout her career she was a dedicated employee with Texas Instruments. Methodist Hospital and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.
Rie was known for her creative flair, often combined with her compassion and interest in others. Once she considered you a friend, she used her creativity to remind you of how much she loved you “more!” She got great pleasure from creating exquisite individualized handmade greeting cards for all occasions. She loved Christmas, birthdays, Thanksgiving, Easter… any occasion that gave her reason to play with color, make cards, phone calls, or buy and create gifts and of course, party!
Another thing you couldn’t miss about Rie was her love of butterflies. It was a motivational quote that sparked her loved for the beautiful insect. Whether it was a butterfly broche seeming to rest on the shoulder of her cute “Sunday” suits or a giant butterfly hanging from her bedroom ceiling, Rie adored butterflies.
“She always said and showed me by example, Do what you gotta do to take care of home YOURSELF! Any and every time you get knocked down, you get your butt up!”
- Traci Hodge
“My mother always told me to always try to be a blessing more than a burden to others. She would constantly say, I don’t wanna be a burden to nobody. I want people to remember me as a blessing, not a burden!”
- Michael Hodge
Nelvin is survived by the joy of her life and second proudest achievements, granddaughters, Sydni Nicole Hodge-Bell, Kayci Nicole Hodge grandson, Ayvri Nicqai Hodge; baby brother whom she always thought of as her first child, Rev. Kenneth E. Lovely and sister-in-law Katrina Lovely; a beautiful niece, Ashley Jones; beloved nephews, Terrance Ballard and Bryan Ballard; and the joys of her life, eldest son, Michael X.D. Hodge and daughter Traci Nicole Hodge; a host of cousins, aunts, adopted family and friends too numerous to list.
It is certain that Rie awaits us for the Holy Reunion and is probably occupying herself playing bingo on her heavenly smart phone, wearing out the ears of the other angels, proudly bragging on her children and grandchildren and entertaining the heavenly hosts by dancing and singing “don’tcha wish your girlfriend was hot like me!”
Please leave condolences for the family of Nelvin Marie Lovely Conner.
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