Eva Janell (McKinley) Hudson went home to be with the Lord on December 22, 2021 at age 82. Born September 17, 1939, the first child of Underwood and Doris McKinley, Janell grew up in the Community of Liberty near Fulton, Alabama. Her father was killed in a vehicle accident at age 42 in 1956 which left her mother raising five children. Janell was the oldest at 16 and stepped in to help care for her siblings.
After graduating from Clarke County High School in 1957, she married Ralph Hudson, which began an exciting life as an Air Force wife. When her mother died of cancer at age 38 in 1958, at just 19 and newly married Janell assumed responsibility for her two youngest brothers, Gordon (12) and Rayford (10), and she and Ralph raised the boys for eight years. She became a mother while in Georgia in January of 1959 when Bret was born, with Bart arriving just 12 months later. Susan was born when the family lived at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines in 1962.
The years to come included homes in Alabama, California, Texas, and Oklahoma. Wherever she landed Janell served in many capacities - as an in-home childcare provider, a high school registrar for 7 years in Texas, a Directorate Secretary for 6 years with McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Corp in Oklahoma, and 8 years in the Saudi Arabia International School System in school administration. She also provided administrative support to the US Air Force Stealth Fighter Wing personnel who deployed to Saudi Arabia during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. She was a proud member of Fountain of Faith Baptist Church, the Turnerville Ladies Club, Saraland Red Hat Society, Take Off Pounds Sensibly group (TOPS), and Good Tyme Travelers RV Club, just to name a few.
When not actively engaged with her family and community, she loved to garden, quilt, crochet, RV, and find butterfly memorabilia (inspired by Dolly Parton). On any given weekend you’d find her cooking and mowing her 5 acres of grass, then she’d still find time to whoop the boys in games of Jokers and Pegs.
While living in Saudi Arabia from 1984-1992, Ralph and Janell had ample opportunities to travel the world and explored 24 different countries together. Including China, Hong Kong, Egypt, New Zealand, the UK, Germany, Greece, the Philipines, and the Netherlands. She considered these some of the best times of her life.
After returning to the United States in 1992, Janell and Ralph retired to the community of Turnerville near Saraland, Al. They used their home as a base of operations while they extensively travelled the lower 48 States plus Canada and Alaska, with more international travel to visit family.
Janell was preceded in death by her father, mother, brothers Connie, Gordon and Rayford McKinley, granddaughter Lois Hudson, and son-in-law Brian Willbanks. She is survived by her devoted husband of 64 years, Ralph, sons Bret (Brenda) and Bart (Paula), daughter Susan Willbanks, and sister Betty (McKinley) Brown (David) and five grandchildren.
More than anything she did in her life, she leaves a family and community that loved her. She was well-respected, poised, smart, funny, faithful, and a little sassy. A wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother who recognized everyone as unique and special, she made you feel loved, accepted, included, and at home. Her cooking would bring a smile to your face. She was warm and welcoming, and always ready with hugs and kisses. We will miss her dearly - for the wonderful person she inspired each of us to be.
“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.” Isaiah 66:13
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at Radney Funeral Home-Mobile at 11:00 a.m., with a Chapel Services at 1:00 p.m. .Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens Saraland, Alabama.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project (online) or the Abba Shriners Transportation Unit, (251)633-5561, 7701 Hitt Rd, Mobile, Alabama 36695.
