Millington Mayor on His Wife's Suicide

Millington, Tn - Millington Mayor Richard Hodges says his decision to retire, is a position he never imagined he would take.

"Honestly, I believe it's best for Millington...Millington can move forward, go on"

The 62-year-old took office in 2008, but now faces charges for two counts of bribery, stemming from a probe into alleged illegal gambling and corruption.

"I am not guilty, I have never taken a dime, I have never asked anyone up here to do anything"

While he could not talk about the pending case, he would discuss what he learned from it.

"When I was owning my own business, I could kid around and stuff and we could do that, once you get in politics and get under that magnifying glass, you really have to watch your P'S and Q'S."

He says his love for people pulled him into office, but politics pushed him out.

"It hurts, it hurts, I can say this, it's basically my own doing…not knowing who your friends really are can hurt you."

As the TBI scrutinized his public role, Hodges says it's his private life that proved most difficult.

"If I'm upset about anything, it's cause this other situation has robbed me from being able to mourn for my wife and give her her last due."

In the midst of the TBI investigation, Hodges wife, Rita, committed suicide. Hodges says he left the home around 7 am. She died within the hour. He's still coping with the grief of that morning.

"She got up and gave me a hug goodbye, should've realize something was wrong right then, she never been up before me she put her arms around me, squeezed me hard and said you have a good day."

He left, but his intuition told him to return. By the time he did, it was too late.

"Saw the bathroom door closed, saw door leash thrown over door…there she was hangin there…I'll never forget that noise, pulled it out, she went back like that."

Hodges says his wife suffered from arthritis, plus injuries from a car accident a year earlier. She also stopped taking her medication.

"She was getting depressed. This job kept me away from home a lot."

When asked if he regretted taking the job, Hodges said, "No, I loved it."

The Millington native says he will retire Friday afternoon, but won't stay for the meeting afterwards, where the Aldermen elect his replacement.

As the Mayor leaves his seat, he offers words of advice for the next person.

"Be committed to this job and watch every move you make, cause right or wrong, you're being watched."