Fallen Hero: CMSgt Charles Sidney Hudson (Ret)

Pearl

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Funeral Home

Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home

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Obituary

Military Service Tribute, Honors, and Obituary

Recognizing and Honoring a Fallen Hero, Who Served Within the Mississippi National Guard. “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten”

In recognition of our proud American tradition of honorable service which our military men and women have given to their country and our State, we honor a Fallen Hero. Our nation, our state, and the National Guard Association of MS (NGAMS) regard the memorializing of its retired military deceased as an honorable and sacred obligation.

Another great Airman and Fallen Hero has been released from duty, passed from our ranks on December 26, 2023, and has moved on to his heavenly home. CMSgt Charles Sidney Hudson (Ret), age 87, who served in the MSANG and served within the 172d Combat Engineer Squadron, 172d Airlift Wing has departed and gone to a better place with our good Lord.

It takes a special person to serve within the military for their country, giving up their family time, comfort, and safety for their country, ultimately for all Americans to enjoy their freedoms, safety, and way of life. We now applaud you for your service to our country.  A special message from General Douglas McArthur remains applicable today for our servicemen that have passed: “Old Soldiers never die; they just fade away”.

Rest in Peace Airman.  We applaud your patriotism, sacrifices, and brave efforts in serving our country and your family for their support of your service. We thank you for your service. Without your efforts and your families’ support, our country would not stand so boldly, shine so bright and live so free.

You now have earned a rest, so go fly with the Angels, go rest high on that mountain; your work on earth is done. Go to heaven a-shoutin’ Love for the Father and the Son.

Another great Airman has gone home, “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten, Airman for Life”.

Obituary, Visitation, and Service details:  

Charles Sidney Hudson, of Pearl, died peacefully at River Oaks Hospital on December 26, 2023.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00pm on Saturday, December 30th, 2023 at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl, Mississippi, with Rev. Ted Giordano and Rev. Calvin Williams officiating. Visitation will be Saturday, December 30th, 2023 from 10:30am until 12:00pm at the funeral home. Interment will be in Floral Hills Memory Gardens in Pearl, Mississippi with Steven D. Cook performing “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes.

Charles was born in Lodi, MS, on October 29, 1936, to Albert Alexander Hudson and Geneve Greenlee Hudson. He graduated from Pearl High School in 1954. He attended Hinds Junior College for two years where he received an Associates of Arts Degree in 1965. He married Janie Lou Lewis on November 12, 1960, making a home in Pearl, Mississippi.

Charles was born with tremendous work ethic and was proud of his efforts to support his family tirelessly working “all day, every day” in both a civilian and a military capacity.

In his civilian life, Charles initially followed in his father’s footsteps becoming a skilled and respected carpenter, building quality homes in Pearl and throughout the Jackson metropolitan area. In 1977 he was hired by the City of Pearl to be the Director of Parks and Recreation and later, the Community Development Director. In this capacity he was instrumental in the concept and development of what is now Center City Park. In 1992, Charles was elected to the Rankin County Board of Supervisors where he served until 1995.

Charles transitioned back to the private sector in 1995 to work with his son doing specialty construction projects in Louisiana and Mississippi and finally working with Revel ACE Hardware in Pearl until his retirement in 2007 at the age of 70.

Charles’s military life began when he enlisted in the Marine Reserves in 1953, transferring to The United States Air Force Reserves where he served on active duty and Reserve status until he was Honorably Discharged in 1961. Charles would later enlist in the Mississippi Air National Guard 172nd Tactical Air Wing in 1986 where he served in the Civil Engineering Squadron, retiring from military service in 1996 as a Chief Master Sergeant with over 25 years of total service.

Charles is a graduate of the United States Air Force Command Non-Commissioned Officer Course, and received numerous awards which include the Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal w/3 olc, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal w/olc, Air Force Longevity Service Award w/3 olc, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and the Mississippi War Medal.

Charles and his family were members of the McLaurin Heights Baptist Church and later the Pearson Baptist Church in Pearl where he served as a Deacon and sang in the Choir. He had a wonderful bass voice and would occasionally bless the congregation with his testimony in song. He was a proud father and always set the example for his 2 boys.

Charles is survived by his son Charles Albert of Pearl, Ms; his 3 grandchildren – Charles Sidney (CJ) Hudson II, Spencer James Hudson, Kathryn Sophia Hudson of Slidell, LA; and nephew Don Zebert of Pearl, MS. He was preceded in death by his parents Albert Alexander Hudson and Geneve Greenlee Hudson; by his wife of 63 years, Janie Lou Lewis Hudson; siblings David Edward Hudson and Sara Nell Hudson Zebert; his son Michael Sidney Hudson, and nephews David Edward Zebert and Alan Dale Zebert.

Memorials may be made to Children’s Hospital at University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39216.