Floreine Herron Hudson

Dr. Frances Floreine Herron Hudson, at age 102, transitioned to her heavenly home on August 12, 2018. Born in Columbus, Georgia July 5, 1916 to the late William Francis and Laura Isabel Battley Herron, she spent most of her life in Georgia. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, James Hood Hudson, her parents, her brother and sister-in-law, Frank and Virginia Herron, and her sister, Minnie Myrtle Herron.

Dr. Hudson received her BS in Mathematics from Georgia State College for Women and began her teaching career in Harris County and later in Muscogee County. During WW II, as men were leaving for military duty, she became a principal and earned her MS in Administration from Auburn University. With the support of her husband, Jim, she returned to Auburn for her Ed. D., where she was the first woman to receive a doctorate in Education from that institution. While there she met Dr. Jim Cherry, who offered a position in the DeKalb County School System. After six years with DeKalb, she became a professor in education at Georgia State University, from where she retired in 1977 as a Professor Emeritus.

Dr. Hudson has been listed in numerous “Who’s Who” publications for her outstanding career in the academic world. An annual award is made at GSU in the name of Floreine Hudson by Kappa Delta Epsilon for a woman student with the highest scholastic average in education. A scholarship in her name is given at Auburn University. During her tenure as a professor, she was the author of numerous publications and for many years served on an evaluation team in the DeKalb County Public Schools.

At Oak Grove United Methodist Church, where she was a member for 60 years, she served as Chairman of the Administrative Board and taught a women’s class for almost 40 years. When the women’s and men’s classes merged, she continued to teach one Sunday a month until 2007. She was well-known for the devotionals she presented at various organizations.

In retirement Dr. Hudson began china painting and is known for the dolls she made and dressed as well as her porcelain pieces – all poured from slip and fired in her kiln. Her handcrafts are treasured works of art for family and friends. Cake decorating became a favorite activity, and she shared her creations with her church and organizations. She made a three-tiered cake for an event at Oak Grove UMC, wedding cakes for special family members, and other special treats for organizations.

Her involvement in organizations is quite lengthy, as organizations have readily accepted her leadership skills. She served four years as national president of Kappa Delta Epsilon while in her 80s. Organizations for which she has served as president are: Atlanta Branch AAUW, Alpha Rho Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, Retired Teachers Association, Oak Grove Chapter AARP, Peachtree Pilot Club, Georgia World Organization of China Painters, Georgia Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Georgia Association for Higher Education, Life Enrichment, and many others.

Her most ardent supporter during her professional and volunteer career was her husband, Jim, whom she married in 1947. They traveled in Europe, South America, the Holy Land, and all the states in the United States. Jim was truly in the forefront of those men who are willing to relocate in order to give support to their wives in their professional life.

She is survived by her nieces, Laura Herron Lamb, Amanda and Emily Lamb of Carrollton. Although Dr. Hudson and her husband had no children, they became “adopted grandparents” to Suzanne Birdsong Huff and Layne Birdsong in 1979. They survive her along with their parents, Alta and Ken Birdsong, their spouses, Dan Huff and Claire Birdsong, and their children Meagan and Erin Huff and Helen, Tom, and Donna Birdsong. Regina and Harry Haynes, her husband’s niece and nephew, also survive as well as several cousins.

Funeral services will be held at A. S. Turner & Sons in Decatur on Saturday, August 18, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. prior to the service. Burial will be in Parkhill Cemetery in Columbus, Georgia.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to:
1) The Dr. Floreine H. Hudson Endowment, Attn: Development Management, 317 S. College St., Auburn AL 36849
2) The Floreine H. Hudson Endowment, made payable to the GSU Foundation with the notation that they be directed to the CEHD Dean’s Scholarship Fund in memory of Dr. Floreine H. Hudson
Mail to: GSU Foundation, Attn: McRae Stephenson, PO Box 3980, Atlanta, GA 30302 - or
3) The charity of your choice