This work honors our heritage from Braxson Edward Hudson 1901-1963, and Maudie Anne Rogers-Hudson 1907-1998. They reared 7 children including Lillian Hudson-Pleasant, Lucille Hudson-Stangeland 1927-1996, Lorraine Hudson-Kingry, Hulon Clabron Hudson, Lois Hudson-Lay, Linda Hudson-Bodie 1946-2002, and the cherished oldest son Edward Braxson Hudson 1924-1944, who tragically died in an auto accident while on leave from his service in the American submarine fleet.

I've long wanted to bring Edward and the Hudson family together in one work and this family classic seemed appropriate. The photo of the central group is from 1948 and Edward in his Navy uniform 1944, not long before he died. He's also to the right of the group as a child and in the groups to the rear with his mother & grandmother (left) and sisters lucille & Lillian (right). The Hudson home was the birthplace of all Maudie's children and many of her grandchildren. Six or seven generations of descendants have cherished memories of family celebrations held in the modest home she and Braxson lived in all their adult lives.

The small dark house in the upper right was built by Ernest Stangeland and Jim Pleasant during the early WWII years so their wives, Lillian Pleasant and Lucille Stangeland had quarters for their growing families while they were away fighting the war. After leaving the home Braxson moved it and attached it to his home creating the right angle extension.They left a wealth of memories for hundreds of people.

"Fiddling Brack Hudson and Brothers Five: They entertained from the early 1920's to the 1940's. This photograph was taken September 6, 1938. From left, Ray Hudson, Bass Banjo (that he made), was a carpenter, boat builder and retired from Civil Service; Edgar Hudson, Tenor Banjo, owned Edgar's Grocery, served on the City Council for nine years and as Mayor from 1948 until 1950; Grady Barnes, Banjo, retired from the L&N Railroad; Brack Hudson, Fiddle, was the Champion Fiddler of Northwest Florida, was a carpenter and served on the Santa Rosa County School Board; Leonard Wolfe, Guitar, worked at the Post Office and later became the Postmaster; Grover Barnes, Guitar, retired from Civil Service.

The band was hired to play for dances at the Imogene Theater, Johnson, Hoodless and Bayview Pavilions, Floridatown Inn and Sanders Beach. They also played Gospel music for revivals. They had a weekly 30-minute WCOA Radio Show that broadcasted from the top floor of the San Carlos Hotel in Pensacola. Along with radio broadcasts, there were personal appearances at schools and community centers in Florida and Alabama where they performed a Comedy Minstrel Show. They had a strong following. Friends and neighbors would travel just to listen and fellowship during their practice sessions which sometimes lasted to early morning. Even now, you can overhear some of the old-timers, friends and families say, 'Remember the time...?'" SOURCE: THE SANTA ROSA PRESS-GAZETTE, 06/30/1994, by ROSA ELLA HUDSON (Click on the art work to get the full sized image.)