Rev. Phillip G. Hudson

Our dear Daddy/PhilGene/Phillip had a larger-than-life personality that could both win you over and scare you to death. While softer and subdued by illness later in life, his beautiful, resonant voice could move your soul; and, his loud, infectious laughter would immediately invite you in to whatever he found funny. He had a big heart and truly cared for others.

He treasured family gatherings where we told stories, laughed, sang, prayed, danced, and joked around. He often told younger generations that they were children of “the promise” – one made to the Lord decades before by his grandfather Rev. William Curtis Mansfield when his life was spared after a car accident. If you caught Phillip at just the right moment observing everyone with a smile on his face, he might say, “It sure is good to have all of Mary and Curt’s babies together.”

Phillip was a huge sports fan who was once president of a national championship little league baseball team in Gary, Indiana. He also was instrumental in starting the city’s first girls little league softball team. He moved with the seasons from football to basketball to baseball, adding tennis to the mix when Venus and Serena hit the scene. When their matches came on, he’d say he was going to watch “his girls” (which may or may not have earned him a healthy dose of side eye from his actual girls). He bowled in a Dallas league for many years, bringing home a number of trophies to back up his trash talk about his great bowling record. True to form, he encouraged his own children to play sports and was often the loudest parent in the bleachers cheering them on at their games (actually, he was usually the loudest person at a LOT of events).

He was a movie buff, music lover, and avid reader; and he never turned down an opportunity to play Scrabble, Bid Whist or Gin Rummy. He would often blast jazz music during Saturday morning cleaning time (much to the chagrin of the neighbors). His dream was to have his kids form a church band and play while he preached. They were encouraged (ok, sometimes “told”) to take singing, piano and drum lessons. While his kids did sing in the choir, the dream to play during church services was ultimately fulfilled by his grandchildren.

Phillip was so loved and he will be deeply missed.

Phillip Gene Hudson was born on Friday, January 26, 1945 to Albert Gene Hudson and Mary Elizabeth Mansfield. While far from ideal and fraught with challenges, his upbringing was filled with loving family members, mentors and friends.

He attended Indianapolis public schools and graduated from Shortridge High School. He gave his life to Christ at a young age and was called to preach as a teenager. Phillip often said that he ran from the Lord until he could no longer deny the calling. When offered a scholarship to study at Bishop College, he moved from Indiana to Texas with his first wife, Jewel Hudson, and their three young girls. While there he made the Dean’s List, served as president of the freshman class, wrote for the student newspaper and sang in the choir. Phillip would go on to earn a bachelor’s degree in religion, a master’s degree in theology from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University (SMU), and a master’s degree in public administration from SMU. While pursuing his master’s degrees and working for the City of Dallas, he met and married Marie, with whom he shared a life for more than four decades.

For more than 20 years, Phillip served faithfully as a United Methodist minister in the North Texas Conference, and as a chaplain for both Parkland and Methodist Hospitals in Dallas. He earned teaching and administrative certifications while with the Dallas Independent School District and served as an administrator in the Fort Worth Independent School District. Phillip retired from both the United Methodist Church and Fort Worth Independent School District.

He was a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and the Prince Hall Freemasonry. After retirement, Phillip joined Highland Hills United Methodist Church, often serving on the pastoral team there.

He was preceded in death by his beloved mother, father, and sister, Stephanie (“Oozie”) Williams. He is survived by his wife, Marie (“Celeste”); his daughters, Angela Marie (“Bugus”) Hudson, Kimberly ("Kimber") Dean, Jennifer Rae (“Dena Dena”) Hudson (Bob), and Melanie (“Besa Jean”) Hudson Harper; his grandchildren, Nigel (Ashleigh), Nicholas, Naya, Cydney, Mikal, Patrick, Byron, Sophia, Jacob and Hudson; 18 great-grandchildren; his dear sisters, Dorothy (“Dottie Wattie”) Phelps, Rev. Dr. Sheiler Stokes and Mary (“Judy”) Malone; his aunts, Julia (“Julia Ann”) Turner, Clara (“Deanie”) Hogue and Velora (“Lo”) Anderson; his Uncle Leon; and extended family and friends who will treasure his memory forever.