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Eugene R. Hudson, son of James (Jimmie) Lee and Annie W. Hudson was born on Jan. 3, 1932 in Montgomery. He passed away on April 30.

Visitation was held May 6 from 12 – 4 p.m. at Hudson Funeral Services in Greenville. A moment of reflections was held May 6 from 5 – 7 p.m. at First Missionary Baptist Church in Greenville.

A celebration of life service will be held for Mr. Hudson on May 7 beginning at 2 p.m. at Lomax Hannon Auditorium located at 725 South Conecuh Street in Greenville.

At the age of nine, Eugene confessed Christ as his Lord and Savior and joined the North Montgomery Baptist Church. As a boy, he was a newspaper carrier, cut grass and shined shoes to earn money. At 17, he was introduced to the funeral industry and became a part time driver for Lee’s Funeral Home in Montgomery. Two years later, he moved on to Welch Funeral Home and began working as a night man and as an apprentice embalmer and funeral director.

Eugene became more involved with the church. In fact, he organized the Boy Scouts Troop, directed the Summer Bible Program, became director of the Baptist Training Union, managed the church baseball team and taught Sunday School.

After a two year tour in the US Army, Eugene returned home and continued his work at Welch Funeral Home. At the same time, he began his six-year term in the US Army Reserve, totaling eight years. Eugene attended Trinity Lutheran School for eight years and attended Alabama State Laboratory High School to complete his high school education. Moving on to college, he received his Bachelor of Science in secondary education from Alabama State University (ASU) in Montgomery and served as an ASU Dramatic Guild Member for three years, president of ASU Dramatic Guild, official school A in ASU Football, member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and ASI Campus Marshals winning special awards in industrial arts and the official key in drama at ASU.

In 1955, he enrolled into the Atlanta College of Mortuary Science. At night, he worked for Haugabrooks and Cox Funeral Home in Atlanta. He passed the state board of Alabama in 1956. On April 9, 1956, Eugene married the love of his life, Clara G. Brown. In 1956, they moved to Greenville and together, they opened Hudson Funeral Services on Jan. 6, 1956. 

Currently Hudson Funeral Services has two locations: 620 West Commerce Street in Greenville and 330 Highway 265 in Camden. 

To supplement his income, Eugene worked as a substitute teacher, teaching at night. He also taught and coached football and basketball at Lomax Hannon High School and Junior College. He was Parks and Recreation Director of the City of Greenville at Dunbar Park.

Eugene Hudson has been faithfully dedicated to funeral service for over 60 years. Some of his many accolades in the funeral service industry include past president of the Alabama Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Inc. (AFD&MA), past district governor for District V of the National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association, Inc. (NFDMA) and a member of East Alabama Funeral Director Association.

Mr. Hudson was a member of the Alabama Democratic Conference, Butler County Education League, a life member of the Butler County Optimist Club International and a member of the Butler County Civic League, where he also served as president. He was also a past member of Hamilton Lodge #365 AF&AM in Montgomery, the American Legion, Professional Men’s Club, Union District Baptist Association, past member of the Epsilon Nu Delta Mortuary Fraternity, Inc. and a member of the Concerned Citizens of Wilcox County.

Eugene was the first black city council member elected in Greenville. He was influential in drawing floor plans and pushing the city to have an indoor sports building and preparing and making the motion for a new school in Greenville. 

One of his most outstanding accomplishments was being a grant writer for more than five years. One year, he secured two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Additionally, another very outstanding accomplishment was to rebuild his home church, North Montgomery Baptist Church in Montgomery at a cost of $40,000.00 and cut his contractors profit to seven percent as a gift to his church.

Mr. Hudson had a great deal of love in his heart for people, education, his community, and his daughter Dr. Alicia R. Brown.