Deacon Dennis G. Hoggard, Sr.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and to me only, but unto all of them also that love his appearing                                                                                                                                              2 Timothy 4:7-8

                                                                                                      The Life of Deacon Dennis Hoggard, Sr.

On a wintery day, December 9, 1957, our beloved Dennis Hoggard was born to the agricultural community of Princess Anne County (Munden), now known as Virginia Beach, Virginia. On Friday, January 30, 2026, at the direction of God, our Heavenly Father, he quietly completed this earthly journey, surrounded by those who loved him most and who loved him most.

Dennis was the eighth child born to his loving parents, the late James and Maude Sanders Hoggard. His parents taught him the love of farming and value of hard work, many times working from sunup to sundown.

Dennis was educated in Virginia Beach Public Schools and graduated from Kellam High School in the class of 1977.  He was an outstanding athlete in wrestling and football.  During his high school years, he fell in love with his high school sweetheart, Jeanette Smith.  For the rest of his life, he remained faithful and loving to his beloved doll baby and angel.  One year after graduation, he was accepted into and attended Virginia Union University on a full football scholarship.  But as fate would have it, his father became very ill.  So, Dennis left college to return to the farm to help his father.  He continued to work on the farm with his father, until his father passed away.

On June 15, 1981, after eight years of courtship, Dennis married his beloved Jeanette.  God blessed their Holy Matrimony for forty-four years.  They loved, supported and cared for each other from that day forward. They took their vows seriously…To have and to hold, for better and for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do us part.  To this union, their two wonderful sons were born, Dennis II and David. Big Dennis was a devoted, loving and exemplary father who taught his sons to love God, love family and to work hard as men of integrity.

Dennis accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior as a teenager and joined Little Piney Grove Baptist Church under the pastoral leadership of Reverend Ajack Scott.  Under the pastorate of Pastor Scott, he was appointed the youngest Deacon in 1982, after demonstrating characteristics of diaconate leadership.  He was active, dedicated and devoted.  He served as Chairman of the Diaconate Ministry for many terms, and he demonstrated his sacrificial love for the church in times of sickness and health.  He supported and attended church even when he was extremely ill.  Deacon Dennis served faithfully, until God called him home. 

Deacon Dennis, anointed by God, realized he was an imperfect man, but he knew he served a perfect God.  He absolutely loved the LORD and was faithful to his calling.  He enjoyed good preaching and good singing.  He often stood clapping, rocking back and forth and laughing out loud, while God was being worshiped and praised.  Deacon Dennis was active in various aspects of ministry including the following: Deacon’s Ministry (Chairman), Men’s Ministry (Chairman), Men’s Day (Chairman), Sunday School, Choir Ministry, Building Committee, Pastoral Care Ministry, Pulpit Committees, Bible Study, Vacation Bible School, Bereavement Ministry (Chairman), Graveyard Committee (Chairman) Benevolence Ministry (Chairman), Male Choir (Chairman), and Mass Choir.  Deacon Dennis answered the call to support the church through stewardship, often going above the call of duty in tithes, offerings, and donations to church ministries and charities.  Deacon Dennis loved to sing.  He was well known for some of his favorites:  “Sending Up My Timber,” “Because He Lives,” “The Old Rugged Cross,” “I Won’t Complain,”  “I’ve Come To Tell You What Jesus Said,” and “I Can’t Even Walk Without You Holding My Hand,” Two of his other favorite songs, that most people didn’t know about were, “Hey There Lonely Girl,” and “Patches, I’m Depending On You, Son.”

In addition to farming, Deacon Dennis became an entrepreneur.  He established Hoggard’s Trash and Debris Removal, Hoggard Enterprises and later Hoggard Works, LLC.  

Deacon Dennis was a loving family man who was devoted to his wife, children and grandchildren.  He was mentor, giver and encourager.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, trucking, laughing and joking with friends, family and church folks.  But his best love of all was farming.  He got tremendous pleasure by driving back to “the new ground,” where reminisced on the days gone by with his father.  He was successful in growing crops of abundance.  He gladly shared the fruits of his labor with family, friends, neighbors, senior citizens, church family, homeless shelters, and food banks,

Deacon Dennis never met a stranger and was referred to by many friends and relatives as “The Mayor Of Creeds.”  He was an old-timey fabulous cook and a food connoisseur, especially, for crabs, barbeque, vegetables, pound cake, fruit cake and fruit cake cookies.

Deacon Dennis spent his television time watching the westerns, which is how he got his nickname for his grandchildren, “Pa.”  He thoroughly enjoyed Bonaza, The Guns Of Will Sonnet, High Chaparral, Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, The Big Valley, Rawhide, Cheyenne, Wagon Train, and Tales of Wells Fargo.

Deacon Dennis was not “polished,” prim or proper. The adage, “What you see, is what you get,” described him perfectly.  He was full of “country kindness,” and he was unapologetically Dennis.

Deacon Dennis was predeceased by his parents; James and Maude Hoggard; six siblings; James Luther Hoggard, Geryle Hoggard, Cleon Hoggard, Geraldine Riddick, Darlene Ecklin, and Hannah Baker.

Deacon Dennis leaves to treasure his precious memories, his loving wife, Deaconess Jeanette Hoggard; two sons, Dennis Godford Hoggard II (NaTasha), and David James Hoggard (Sara); two grandchildren Dennis Godford Hoggard III (Tre), and Taylor Elizabeth Hoggard; and one brother-cousin Pastor Barry “BC” Clark (Evangelist Tonya).  He also leaves behind four sisters, Lena Brown, Barbara Holmes, Maude Hoggard, and Olive Butts (Steve); one brother George Hoggard (Betty); five goddaughters; Niya Olds, Brooklyn Brown, Zyah Washington, Ah’Laina Agee, and Nevaeh Ball; five in-laws; Pastor John Smith (Sonja), Dr. Faye Gallop (Fred), Flora Cooper; two friends from childhood and chosen brothers Margo Dixon and Michael Lewis; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.

Our lives will never be the same.  We miss him now; our hearts are sore.  As time goes by, we’ll miss him more.  His loving smile and gentle face, no one on earth can fill his place.

Submitted With Honor, Love, And Gratefulness For The Life Of Our                                                              Beloved Deacon Dennis Godford Hoggard, Sr.