BETTIERUTH JACQUELINE "Jackie" HUDSON

BettieRuth Jacqueline Thompson Hudson 79, was born April 18, 1945 in Little Rock, AR to Cortez and Almond Shockley Thompson.  She was the youngest of three girls, reared by loving parents.  Even though she was visually impaired from birth and then became totally blind in 2000, she learned to navigate her environment.  Her parents did not treat her any different from her sisters, so that meant she was not given a pass for doing chores around the house.  This built her confidence and she was determined that she could do anything her sisters did. 

BettieRuth was baptized during her teenage years at the Howard Street Church of Christ, which later became the Lewis Street Church of Christ. Although there was a school for the Blind in Little Rock, BettieRuth attended Little Rock public schools and graduated from Horace Mann Senior High School in 1963.  She then attended Philander Smith College (University) graduating in 1967 with a degree in Social Work.  Throughout her educational journey, she successfully used large print books and other aids to excel academically.  BettieRuth sang and traveled with the Philander Smith College Choir.  She was selected because of her strong, beautiful alto voice and later added her voice to the Lewis Street Radio Chorus. 

After graduating from Philander Smith College (University), her first job was working for the Department of Human Services in McGhee, AR. Later she was employed by Lions World Services teaching life skills to newly blind adults.  She taught them to wash clothes, dishes, iron, cook and clean, all necessary skills to survive in this world.  She met and married Lennis Hudson and to this union two sons were born, Dale Lynn Jaye Hudson and Kevin James Hudson.  She was a loving, caring parent to her sons and exposed them to as many adventures that she could.  She sought to give them a full life of memorable experiences.  They indeed were raised by a “village” of a loving supportive family, people at church, school and the community.  

BettieRuth loved to travel, study the Bible and was an expert on the Kings in the Old Testament.  She also taught Sunday school and was a youth coordinator and traveled with the youth to National Youth Conferences in several states (New York, Michigan, Washington, California and Florida).  BettieRuth loved listening to her talking books and knew all of the current authors.  People were always in awe of how she was able to live on her own.  She did all of her cooking, cleaning and laundry until her health started to fail.  Her family and close friends would do her grocery shopping and she had a system as to how her cabinets and refrigerator were to be arranged.  It was amazing to watch her maneuver around her home because she knew where EVERYTHING was in her home. 

BettieRuth even had a system for folding her money in different ways so she knew how much money she was giving you.  Her tenacity and sweet gentle spirit will be missed. BettieRuth is preceded in death by her parents, Cortez and Almond Shockley Thompson, son Dale Lynn Jaye Hudson, sister Thressa Robinson, nephews Gary Leon Robinson, Clayton Tyrone Robinson and ex-spouse Lennis Hudson. 

BettieRuth’s memories will forever be cherished by her son, Kevin James Hudson, of Dallas, TX; sister Estella Anderson, of Sherwood, AR; nieces Sharron (Darrell) Davis, of Desoto, TX, Ursula White, of Sherwood, AR; nieces in love Asha Labad, of Dallas, TX, LaTrenda McPeace, of Little Rock, AR; nephews Carlos “Rob” (Lori) Robinson III, of Little Rock, AR, Morris (Natalie) Williams III, of Fort Worth, TX, Thurman James Robinson and Kim Robinson of Little Rock, AR; great-nieces Amber (Caleb) Criner, of Dallas, TX, Cameron Williams, of Dallas, TX, Kobi White, of Memphis, TN, Emalee, Leah, Ashlee and Kinzlee Robinson of Little Rock, AR, Charlah Aldridge of Little Rock, AR; great-nephews Brandon Austin Davis, of Dallas, TX, Saben Lee of Phoenix, AZ, Kelton Johnson of Little Rock, AR, Morris Williams IV of Dallas, TX; great great nieces Kaileigh Robinson of Little Rock, AR, Abigail Criner of Dallas, TX; great great nephew Carlos Tyrone Robinson, of Little Rock, AR, Caleb Criner II, of Dallas, TX; special friends, Gloria Harris, Christie Phillips and Reginia Wilton of Little Rock, AR and a host of sister in laws, brother in laws, cousins and friends.

In memory of everyone that is placed into our care, we have  "A Tree To Remember" planted at no cost to you (Memorial trees are living tributes to loved ones who are no longer with us. Whether you’re gifting a tree for your own friend or family member or for someone close to you who has lost a loved one, it can be comforting to know their legacy is connected to a larger cause:  protecting and maintaining the beauty of our world. Memorial trees are a gift that will last and give back for generations. * www.memorialtrees.com for more information).

Services are as scheduled; the Family hour will be on Friday August 30, 2024 from 6-7:00pm. The Home going celebration will be on Saturday August 31, 2024 at 10:30am, both services will be held at the Levy Church of Christ located at 5124 Camp Robinson Road, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72118. KELLY SMITH & CREMATION SERVICES (8424 Kanis Road * 501-612-5607) will be serving the Hudson families. For more information, sign online guest register, send flowers/cards/condolences/photos/Plant a "Memorial Tree" and light an "In Loving Memory Of" candle www.kellysmithfunerals.com

** SPECIAL NOTES ***  

Click on the     "SERVICE DETAILS" button,   to get updated time and location information. (The Wake, family hour and gathering of family and friends CAN mean all the same in some circumstances, PLEASE read "SERVICE DETAILS" to be correctly informed) 

Click on the     "TRIBUTE WALL or GUEST BOOK" button, to LIGHT A CANDLE and to see all photos, click on a photo to enlarge them. Then click the L or R to see all photos. 

Click on the     "FLOWERS & GIFTS" button,  SO THAT YOU CAN SEND FLOWERS/CARDS/BLANKETS/GIFTS/PLANT A MEMORIAL TREE .  

WE WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO CONTINUE TO LIGHT A CANDLE, UPLOAD PHOTOS AND SEND WORDS OF SENTIMENT ON THIS MEMORIAL PAGE THROUGHOUT THE DAYS, MONTHS AND YEARS TO COME. ESPECIALLY, DURING DAYS OF SPECIAL EVENTS, i.e. BIRTHDAYS, HOLIDAYS, ANNIVERSARY AND THEN ON DAYS WHEN YOU JUST WANT TO SAY SOMETHING TO OR ABOUT YOUR LOVED ONES FOR NO SPECIAL REASON.  (DESIGN AND COLORS CAN BE CHANGED)

THIS MEMORIAL PAGE WILL REMAIN ON OUR WEBSITE INDEFINITELY. DO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS, FEELINGS AND PHOTOS WITH THE FAMILY, THEY WILL APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.  

(We would also appreciate it if you will RATE us, on GOOGLE, and leave a comment on "TESTIMONIAL PAGE" of this MEMORIAL PAGE of your loved one)

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of BETTIERUTH JACQUELINE "Jackie" HUDSON, please visit our floral store.