Bradie Lou Hudson

Bradie Lou Hudson, 91, a resident of Dozier, Alabama, passed away peacefully at Luverne Health & Rehabilitation, while surrounded by her family, on Thursday, November 9th, 2023. Funeral services for Bradie will be held at 2 PM on Sunday, November 12th, at Weed Baptist Church with Rev. Ed Russell officiating. She will then be laid to rest beside her beloved husband in the church cemetery with Turners Funeral Home of Luverne directing. The family will receive friends at the church for one hour prior to the service.

Bradie had a blessedly long life full of good times and lots of love & laughter. She just so happened to randomly meet the love of her life, O.D. Hudson, at a local high school football game. After a whirlwind courtship of six months, she married him at the age of 17 on June 8, 1949, and, despite their young age, their long and happy marriage served as a wonderful example to all those who knew them. Shortly after her marriage, Bradie found a way to make a career out of her tremendous sewing skills when she went to work for Covington Textile Industries in the 1950s and remained a devoted employee there until she was one of the last to walk out the door when the company permanently closed. Additionally, she worked for many, many years alongside her husband as she was responsible for keeping the books for his sawmill and timber company, as well as their farming and cattle operations. It is safe to say, O.D. was indeed an extremely fortunate man the day he met Bradie as she was his greatest asset and a true partner in every way for the rest of his life.

Bradie was a charter founding member Mt. Ida Methodist Church, where she happily grew up and loved her church family there. However, she and O.D. wound up getting married at his home congregation, Weed Baptist Church, where she remained a member for the rest of her life. So, she was blessed with two church families during her lifetime and she continually thrived under their love and fellowship. She was an active participant with her church, serving on and guiding several church committees during her lifetime. She was also extremely proud of her membership in Eastern Star and it was one of her most cherished honors. Additionally, she and O.D. were long-time members of ALFA and she served on their women's committee for numerous years. In her free time, Bradie loved nothing more than to tend to her precious garden. She grew the most beautiful flowers and felt nothing but peace during her time nurturing it and enjoying its beauty. She had a quiet personality, but bring up a topic she loved and she could talk your ear off. She was always so generous with everyone she knew or met and was truly one of the most selfless people you could every hope to meet. She was an incredible example for all those who knew her and an inspiring influence on more lives than she could possibly know.

There was nothing Bradie was prouder of in her lifetime than her family. She adored her sons and would have done anything for them, but there was no greater joy in her life than being "Granny" to their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren! She was a constant presence in all of their lives and never failed to support them 100% in everything they did, from sports to steer shows, sewing projects, beauty pageants, and everything in between. The best thing about visiting Granny though was always the food! No one was a better cook than Bradie as literally everything that came out of her kitchen was just absolutely delicious. Ask her family what her best dish was and you'll hear a chorus of different answers from chicken & dumplings to biscuits, pecan pie, German chocolate cake, fried chicken...well, this list could go on and on. She was at her happiest when her home was filled with family and friends, all of whom came with big appetites and ready to eat, and you never really knew who was going to pop in looking for some phenomenal home-cooking. Her family always looked forward to Saturdays because Granny was going to cook a HUGE spread for the entire family, and it was guaranteed to be scrumptious. Finally, one of their best memories is how much Granny loved her some Dirty Santa! All was fair in love, war, and Dirty Santa for Bradie and you could bet she was gonna be cackling when she managed to steal the best prize of all at Christmas! Memories like that will ensure that she will live on for many, many more years to come as they look back with so much love and laughter on them.

Bradie was preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband, Olen Darrell Hudson; parents, George Washington and Carrie Lou Carnes Compton; and her siblings, Edna Vay (Hamp) Smith, Wilburn (Dot) Compton, and Gilmer Pete (Pauline) Compton. She is survived by her sons & daughters-in-law, Dwight & Lisa Hudson and Ronnie & Mary Ann Hudson; grandchildren, Paul (Brandy) Hudson, Drew (Cheri) Hudson, LaDon (Wendy) Hudson, Angie (Daniel) Gallegos, Jeff (Amanda) Hudson, Lacy (Jody) Cook, Megan Hilliard; great-grandchildren, Josh (Kimberly) Hudson, Noel (William) Douglas, Santanna Lawson, Megan (Brandon) Cornelius, Sarah Drew (Paul) Sweppenhiser, Rachel Hudson, Nolleigh Reaves, Daniel Gallegos, Gracie Hudson, Mckenzie Searcy, Colton Searcy, Allyn Hudson, Archer Hudson, Colin Gallegos, Annabel Gallegos, Adam Harden, Audrey Beth Cook, Hudson Cook; and five great-great-grandchildren with one more on the way; and a multitude of beloved nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

Active pallbearers will be Paul Hudson, Drew Hudson, LaDon Hudson, Jeff Hudson, Jody Cook, Paul Sweppenhiser, and Josh Hudson.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Weed Cemetery Fund.