Eugene Hudson named Professional of the Year
Published 5:52 pm Friday, June 16, 2017
The National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association Inc. selected Eugene R. Hudson as 2017’s Professional of the Year during their April 2017 board meeting held in Jamaica’s Montego Bay.
“My wife, church life, education and working under two well-prepared funeral persons, and the communities I serve are a major part of making this possible,” Hudson said.
“This is the Heisman trophy of funeral services.”
Hudson and his wife, the late Clara G. Hudson, opened Hudson Funeral Services in January 1956.
They opened in what was once Greenville Undertaking Company (closed August 1955).
Hudson is a native of Montgomery, Ala., but his father—the late Jimmie (James) Hudson was from Greenville, Ala.
Hudson was born to James and Annie W. Hudson in Montgomery, Ala. He attended Trinity Lutheran School in grades 1-8.
He then transferred to Alabama State College (University) Laboratory High School. He attended Alabama State University for three years.
Being drafted into the U.S. Army interrupted his college education.
He served a two-year active duty tour, which included 10 months in Korea. He was then placed in the Army Reserves for six more years.
At the end of his active duty time in the Army, Hudson returned to Alabama State University and received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education.
He later attended Atlanta College of Mortuary Science and completed a 12-month class in nine months.
His training came from two top funeral professionals, the late C.W. Lee of Lee’s Funeral Home, a past national president, and B.W. Fitts of Welch Funeral Home. Both men hailed from Montgomery, Ala.
Hudson has been and still is a member of several organizations, including the Hamilton Lodge 365, the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons Lodge, Elk Lodge 1170 of Selma, the Butler County Civic League, New South Coalition, Concerned Citizens of Wilcox County, the Professional Men’s Club, the Butler County Optimist Club, the Alabama Funeral Directors and Morticians Association Inc. and the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association Inc.
