Mr. Charles S. Hudson

Funeral services will be held at 12:00pm on Saturday, December 30th, 2023 at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl, Mississippi, with Rev. Ted Giordano and Rev. Calvin Williams officiating. Visitation will be Saturday, December 30th, 2023 from 10:30am until 12:00pm at the funeral home. Interment will be in Floral Hills Memory Gardens in Pearl, Mississippi with Steven D. Cook performing "Amazing Grace" on the bagpipes.

Charles was born in Lodi, MS, on October 29, 1936, to Albert Alexander Hudson and Geneve Greenlee Hudson. He graduated from Pearl High School in 1954. He attended Hinds Junior College for two years where he received an Associates of Arts Degree in 1965. He married Janie Lou Lewis on November 12, 1960, making a home in Pearl, Mississippi.

Charles was born with tremendous work ethic and was proud of his efforts to support his family tirelessly working “all day, every day” in both a civilian and a military capacity.

In his civilian life, Charles initially followed in his father’s footsteps becoming a skilled and respected carpenter, building quality homes in Pearl and throughout the Jackson metropolitan area. In 1977 he was hired by the City of Pearl to be the Director of Parks and Recreation and later, the Community Development Director. In this capacity he was instrumental in the concept and development of what is now Center City Park. In 1992, Charles was elected to the Rankin County Board of Supervisors where he served until 1995.

Charles transitioned back to the private sector in 1995 to work with his son doing specialty construction projects in Louisiana and Mississippi and finally working with Revel ACE Hardware in Pearl until his retirement in 2007 at the age of 70.

Charles’s military life began when he enlisted in the Marine Reserves in 1953, transferring to The United States Air Force Reserves where he served on active duty and Reserve status until he was Honorably Discharged in 1961. Charles would later enlist in the Mississippi Air National Guard 172nd Tactical Air Wing in 1986 where he served in the Civil Engineering Squadron, retiring from military service in 1996 as a Chief Master Sergeant with over 25 years of total service.

Charles is a graduate of the United States Air Force Command Non-Commissioned Officer Course, and received numerous awards which include the Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal w/3 olc, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal w/olc, Air Force Longevity Service Award w/3 olc, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and the Mississippi War Medal.

Charles and his family were members of the McLaurin Heights Baptist Church and later the Pearson Baptist Church in Pearl where he served as a Deacon and sang in the Choir. He had a wonderful bass voice and would occasionally bless the congregation with his testimony in song. He was a proud father and always set the example for his 2 boys.

Charles is survived by his son Charles Albert of Pearl, Ms; his 3 grandchildren – Charles Sidney (CJ) Hudson II, Spencer James Hudson, Kathryn Sophia Hudson of Slidell, LA; and nephew Don Zebert of Pearl, MS. He was preceded in death by his parents Albert Alexander Hudson and Geneve Greenlee Hudson; by his wife of 63 years, Janie Lou Lewis Hudson; siblings David Edward Hudson and Sara Nell Hudson Zebert; his son Michael Sidney Hudson, and nephews David Edward Zebert and Alan Dale Zebert.

Memorials may be made to Children’s Hospital at University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39216.