Linnette Ruth (Schmucker) Hudson died on December 9. Mrs. Hudson was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, the Rev. Calvin L. Hudson. The couple served for 32 years at Second & Fourth Baptist Church, Baltimore, where Calvin served as pastor.
Linnette Hudson (left) with her husband, The Rev. Calvin Hudson.
Her children shared that their mom seldom missed a Sunday away from the church. She read her Bible and prayed regularly and she witnessed to others. She served in many ways including playing the piano and organ, teaching Sunday school, serving as a youth camp cook and watching the little ones in the nursery. She cared for the sick, including her father, The Rev. Luke Schmucker, who was ill for most of Mrs. Hudson’s young life, as well as tending to other ailing family members and friends.
In 1949, Linnette graduated from Capital University in Ohio with a bachelor of arts degree in religion and a minor in mathematics. She continued taking graduate-level mathematics classes at Johns Hopkins University, where she met her husband.
In her spare time, she enjoyed baking cookies, gardening, canning, and doing jigsaw puzzles. She also made by hand her family’s Christmas stockings.
Tally Wilgis, the pastor of Captivate Church, said, “The Lord called, saved, and equipped me through the ministry of 2nd & 4th Baptist Church. The matriarch of that church for 32 years was Mrs. Linnette Hudson. As a product of the ministry and now as a pastor myself, I have enormous admiration for the woman I knew as Mrs. Hudson. She lived a life that put the fruit of the gospel on display daily. She served as a helpmate to her husband, raised amazing children, taught thousands through Sunday School, played countless hymns on the church piano, and met every demand with a warmth and grace. She was a strong woman of God who made you feel loved and valued every time you came around. I’m thankful for her life and confident in her lasting legacy.”
In addition to The Rev. Hudson, she is also preceded in death by her sister Joanne Wood and Joanne’s husband Edward Wood, her parents Rev. and Mrs. Luke Schmucker, her husband’s parents Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Hudson, and many other family members and friends. Mrs. Hudson was the devoted mother of Mark Hudson and his wife Laura Hudson, Rachel Hudson, Paul Hudson, Joel Hudson and his wife Debbie Hudson, Nathan Hudson and his wife Tammy Hudson. Linnette also was the loving grandmother of 15 and great-grandmother of one.
A memorial service was held at South Columbia Baptist Church on Dec. 13. Mrs. Hudson loved Christmas and had a heart for missions. So, instead of flowers, the family is requesting that you donate to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering or your local church’s mission fund in her memory.