Mary Sue Morris Hudson passed away peacefully on Friday, January 2, 2015. She was born on

September 13, 1920, in Hartwell, Georgia, to the late Louie Ligon Morris and the late Edna

Thornton Morris. Sue graduated from Hartwell High School and then attended Georgia State

College for Women in Milledgeville, Georgia, before striking out for the big city, Atlanta. There

she held clerical positions and also was the requested pianist for many public and private social

functions in the area. When she was chosen Georgia Pecan Queen in 1940, her picture was in

the Atlanta Constitution, and this led to her meeting her future husband, W. Hill Hudson Jr. of

Shelby.

Sue and Hill married and returned to Shelby to make their home for the 65 years of their

marriage. Sue immersed herself in raising her three sons, and centered the life of their family

around First Baptist Church, as the spiritual mentor of her family, she led by strong example

both in word and deed. She was involved in many facets of the church's work. For over 50

years, Sue taught a Sunday School class to generations of young married women, and the class

was eventually named in her honor. She loved each and every one of "her girls" and delighted

in sharing with them as they began their young families. ln addition, for over 30 years she led a

Bible study group every month around her dining room table. Friends and family will always

remember the stacks of reference books, Bible commentaries and articles that were

permanently stacked around her chair as she studied and wrote down in notebooks every

week's lesson. Active in WMU, one of Sue's favorite things was playing the piano for First

Baptist's weekly devotional time at North Shelby School.

Sue was a wonderful pianist and faithful member of the Cecelia Music Club. She expanded on

this love of music by entering Limestone College in 1954 and earning her degree in music

education. During this time, she learned to play the cello and enjoyed for many years

participating in the Gardner Webb Orchestra, the Rutherford County Orchestra, and the First

Baptist Orchestra. She took particular joy in playing alongside her granddaughters in the church

orchestra.

A great cook, Sue was known for taking her comforting dishes of macaroni and cheese or

homemade pimento cheese to the sick and grieving in the community. Sue also was an avid

reader and member of the Tuesday Forum Book Club and loved the fellowship of playing bridge

with her friends. She enjoyed her weekly tennis game until she was in her7O’s and in her 30’s

was the Women's Golf Champion of Cleveland Country Club.

Sue is survived by her sister, Edna Morris Pfaender of Hartwell, Georgia, and her three sons;

Hill Hudson III and wife Carole Ann of Shelby; Louie Morris Hudson and wife Brenda of Shelby; and Robert Christopher Hudson of Memphis, Tennessee.

Also surviving are grandchildren Leah Hudson Webb of Raleigh, NC; Anne Hudson Angevine of Bronxville, NY; William Hill Hudson IV of Charlotte, NC; and Lindsey Hudson Zurline of Cameron, NC, and six great-grandchildren.

The family would like to express gratitude to the wonderful community at Cleveland Pines who

lovingly cared for Sue for almost 2 years. Additionally, the comfort and guidance provided by

Hospice of Cleveland County was cherished.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm on Monday, January 5, 2015 in Webb Chapel of First Baptist

Church of Shelby and will be conducted by the Rev. Tony Tench. Visitation will follow in the

Ladies Parlor of First Baptist Church. Burial will be private. The family invites any former

members of Sue's Sunday School class to sit in a specially reserved section in the chapel.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 120 N. Lafayette St., Shelby, NC 28150, or to

Hospice, 951 Wendover Heights Drive, Shelby, NC, 28150, or to Cleveland Memorial Library 104 Howie Dr., Shelby, NC, 28150.

Guest Registry is available at www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com