Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service (VBLS)

🛟 20 YEARS OF SERVICE 🛟

From a teenage girl watching her brothers work on the beach to becoming an ocean lifeguard herself at 49 years old — her journey with Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service is one of turning a dream into reality… and for 20 years, Nancy “Mama” Hodges has been a vital part in the VBLS family!

After successfully completing her first swim test and surf rescue training, Nancy has never looked back. She remembers her surf rescue classes like it was yesterday… freezing cold water and rough ocean conditions, but she wouldn’t change it for the world. For the past 20 years, she’s savored every day spent on the beach. She says her favorite aspect of the job is using her knowledge and skills to help beach patrons, make a difference in people’s lives, and work alongside some of the “best people she’s ever met.”

When she’s not in the stand, you can probably find Nancy in the water. Her favorite break-time activity is going for an ocean swim, usually with her husband, John. With the window for good ocean swimming conditions being short, she takes every opportunity she can get to get in the water.

And when it comes to competition? Her favorite competition event is “The next one on the schedule!” She also loves cheering on teammates and lifeguards from other beaches. For her, competition is about more than the events; it’s about the people, the support, and the relationships built along the way. Aside from comp, she also loves everything the VBLA brings to the community, especially the Ocean Swim Series that is held every year.

Her advice for anyone visiting the beach is to keep a close eye on your kids, to swim near a lifeguard, leave the beach better then you found it and make sure to stop by and say hi to the lifeguards when you first get to the beach!

We cannot express more gratitude for Mama Hodges and everything she has done for VB Ocean Rescue. Thank you for the best 20 years!!