Carolyn Martin Howard Hudson

Friday, January 17, 2014

Carolyn Martin Howard Hudson, 71, of Luxora, passed away in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Jan. 15, at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis. She was born Jan. 26, 1942, in Luxora, to Charles and Evelyn Howard.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Luxora and was the third generation of her family to attend that church. She had taught a Ladies Sunday School Class for years.

She was a member of WMU, and also participated in the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief program, on the chainsaw team.

She retired from Viskase in 2002 after 24 years. Her hobbies included gardening, both flower and vegetable gardens, and bird watching (she loved hummingbirds). She loved to read her Bible, and she was an excellent cook. She had a healthy sense of humor. She was very independent, and she learned to work on her own car and to fix things around the house. She raised her three daughters alone, and her family was the most important thing to her. She had recently stated that she had lived a great life and was ready to go whenever her time was up.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and two brothers, Charles S. Howard Jr., and Henry Howard.

She is survived by her three daughters, Maryann and Bud Pankey of Luxora, Jane and David Blackburn of Marion, and Lyn Hudson of Luxora;

Four grandchildren, Brandon Raines, Justin Raines, Skyler Pankey and Sarah Blackburn;

Four great-grandchildren, Drew Raines, Taylor Raines, Jaelan Raines and Beau Raines;

Two sisters, Dixie Strack of Spanish Fort, Ala., and Jenny Phillips of Jonesboro; and

A host of friends and other loved ones.

Memorial services will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church in Luxora with the Rev. Jackie Wood officiating. Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. at the church. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church in Luxora. Condolences may be offered at www.carneyfuneralhome.com