George Gilbert Hudson, 86, died Friday, April 09, 2021, at McLeod Health Clarendon.
Born October 1, 1934, in Sumter, he was a son of the late Archie Talmadge Hudson and the late Beulah Mae Pritchard Hudson. He was a highly decorated retired Chief Master Sergeant of the US Air Force with three decades of service. A veteran of the wars in Korea and Vietnam, CMSgt Hudson was a C-130 Hercules Flight Engineer with the Air Rescue and Recovery Service and a recipient of the USAF Distinguished Flying Cross. He spent another decade with the US Postal Service. He was a long-serving Deacon in Southern Baptist churches including Home Branch Baptist Church and Hoffmantown Baptist Church in Albuquerque, NM. In recent years he attended Providence Baptist Church. He was a Mason. In retirement, Mr. Hudson was a familiar figure in the area, often seen driving the classic automobiles he restored as a hobby.
Mr. Hudson is survived by his wife of 62 years and mother of his children, Joyce Ann Stone Hudson of the Home Branch community; his dear friend, Burnette Geddings of Manning; four sons, George Kenneth Hudson, Kevin Gilbert Hudson (Emilyn), both of Anchorage, AK, Timothy Jackson Hudson (Helena) of Pittsburgh, PA and Joseph Rodney Hudson (Tanith) of Albuquerque, NM; two sisters, Rosa Lee Hodge of Sumter and Catherine Wells of Columbus, GA; twelve grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Vicki Terea Hudson; two sisters, Iva Belle Hodge and Jeanette Goodwin; and a brother, Thomas Hudson.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, in the chapel of Stephens Funeral Home with the Rev. Wayne McElveen and the Rev. Phil Stone officiating.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service from 9 to 10 a.m. at Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the residence, 1035 Virginia Pine Court, Manning.
A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at Florence National Cemetery with the Rev. Robert Haynes officiating.
Memorials may be made to Providence Baptist Church, 2445 Old Manning Road, Sumter, SC 29150.
Stephens Funeral Home & Crematory, 304 N. Church Street, Manning, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 435-2179. www.stephensfuneralhome.org
