Orquida Gail Hurd

Orquida Gail Hurd, 87 of Mount Pleasant, SC passed away at Bon Secours St Francis Hospital after a short illness on Saturday, November 9, 2024. She was in the loving arms of her stepson, Lance Hurd. 

Orquida, daughter of the late Elbert L Hodge and Nina Williams Hodge was born on April 25, 1937, in Packs Branch, WV. She was the seventh child of 8 children all born to Nina and Elbert.

Orquida, known by family and friends as "Skeeter", a nickname given to her by an uncle because of her flitting movement, graduated from Mt. Hope High School in 1955. She moved to Washington, DC to work for the FBI and other federal agencies, except for a brief stint in Los Angeles. She returned to D.C. and worked until her retirement from the FDIC where she worked as secretary to the Chairman.

"Skeeter" loved to dance and won many trophies in Ballroom dancing competitions. This love for dancing led her to find the man she would marry. Attending a high school class reunion, she found that a high school classmate, Bill Hurd was an excellent dancer. They were married shortly after her retirement and moved to Mount Pleasant, SC. where Bill operated a successful business. They enjoyed a blissful, loving marriage, returning often to her home at Packs Branch, until the passing of Bill Hurd on September 19, 2006.

Skeeter is survived by her brother Glenn Hodge (Sandy) of Harrisburg, VA , her sister Sylvia Rosenshine of Waynesboro, VA, her stepchildren, Kim Silberstein (Ted) of Daytona, FL, Lance Hurd (Misty) of Charleston, SC , and Billy Hurd (Stacey) of Saint Petersburg, FL. Skeeter was preceded in death by sisters, Cloteile Belvel, Leona Hall and Doris Miller and brothers, Emerson Hodge and Richard Hodge.

Skeeter was beloved by numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, November 17, 2024, at McAllister-Smith Funeral and Cremation - Mt. Pleasant, 1520 Rifle Range Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464. Skeeter's body will be cremated and her ashes, together with Bill's ashes, will be interred at a later date in WV.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St Judes Children Research Hospital www.stjude.org., 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at McAllister-Smith.com.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAllister-Smith Funeral and Cremation - Mount Pleasant, 1520 Rifle Range Rd, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 (843) 884-3833