FRANKLIN DEE HUDSON

The following bio was taken from page 247 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Shirley Koym

Submitted by Gloria Brimley Mayfield, Cemeteries of Texas

Frank and I are Rusk County natives and were married February 14, 1964 in the Roquemore Baptist Church near Henderson, Texas. We soon realized that our fathers, both Rusk Countians, were born in the 1890’s a short distance from one another in the Pine Hill and Minden communities, that the same doctor, Dr. J. G. Sadler, had delivered both of us, and that our parents shared the same wedding anniversary.

Frank is a Texas Game Warden, and I am a schoolteacher. We reside at 112 Evenside, Henderson, with our two children, Franklin Brad, born November 16, 1968 and Laura Sue, born June 15, 1978. We enjoy doing yard work and gardening together. Brad seems to be following in the footsteps of both grandfathers, who were farmers, as he grows vegetables to sell in his produce stand. Laura Sue has won a grand champion ribbon in the Rusk County vegetable show. Frank and I have shared many hours in a labor of love in restoring antique furniture. We enjoy being members of Calvary Baptist Church in Henderson.

Frank was born November 6, 1939 at the home place on Alford Dairy Road, Henderson, the son of William Eugene "Gene" and Dorinda Elizabeth "Dora" Lobb Hudson. Gene was born in the Minden Community on July 17, 1895 and attended Mount Hope School. Gene’s parents, James Allen and Mary Elizabeth Farley Hudson, settled in Rusk County, having traveled from Georgia by train. James was a farmer and a sawmill worker. Eight children were born to the pair: Gene, James, Mary, Athle, Faula, Lessie, Leanne, and Minnie. Gene married Dora, a Kentucky native, on September 15, 1918, and to this union were born eight children: Teddy, who died in infancy, Herman, Earl, Mary, Charles, Martha, Ann, and Frank. Gene farmed with his wife by his side until his death, March 21, 1979, at the age of eighty-three. Gene was renowned for the apples he grew in his orchard. In addition to selling produce, Gene, for many years, operated a syrup mill, peanut thresher, and a feed mill. Gene and Dora hosted many forty-two parties, and their home was also the headquarters for many coon hunts and much dog trading.

I am the daughter of Hobson Wright and Ada Lucille Fenner Parker and was born May 24, 1944 at the family home in the Roquemore Community. Hobson was born in Pine Hill on March 13, 1898, the son of Christopher C. and Myra Collins Parker, a farming couple. Hobson’s brothers and sisters included Fadie, Corbet, Conrad, Hubert and Eura. Hobson attended Chapman School and later met and married his wife, Lucille, in White Deer, Texas on September 15, 1927. My mother, Lucille, was the daughter of Edgar and Daisy Fenner and was born in Mt. Perry, Ohio. The couple moved to their farm, situated in the pines in Roquemore, where their eight children were born: Bobby, Billy, Peggy, Patsy, who died at the age of three, Jackie, Jimmy, and Pansy, Larry. Hobson worked as a pipe fitter, farmer, and trucker. Over the years, Hobson and Lucille took special pleasure in improving their farmland until Hobson’s death April 1, 1963. Lucille still lives on the family farm with her son, Jackie.

Frank and I appreciate the many contributions made by our parents and their families, along with those made by the many other Rusk County families who helped to make Rusk County the place that we are proud to call our home.

Submitted by Pansy Sue Parker Hudson