Joy Schelhammer Hudgins

Joy Schelhammer Hudgins, 83, of Patriots Colony in Williamsburg, Virginia, passed quietly in her home on July 24, 2026, after a short bout with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia. She passed as she wished, in her home in the presence of those who loved her.

Joy’s life was one filled with many interests and adventures and the challenges of being a military spouse. In a time when the world was in the throes of war against an evil not known for generations, Joy came into the world. She was born on November 10, 1942, to Herman and Duilia Schelhammer in Stamford, Connecticut. The middle child of three, she was raised in the Catholic faith, and she remained devout through her life. She was a loving daughter, sister and best friend, a wife and partner of unmatched grit and love, a superhuman mother, aunt and Nana, and a genuinely kind person known for her sparkling wit, grace, vibrant energy, warmth and generosity.

After graduating from secretarial school, Joy worked for Merrill Lynch and then Pitney Bowes. Later in life, once her children were grown, she worked at John Jay University in NY State. In June of 1964, she married the one true love of her life, then Second Lieutenant Seth F. Hudgins, Jr., United States Army, West Point Class of 1964. Life as a military family meant many moves and relocations, different states, different countries, and different schools for the children. It meant making and eventually leaving friends, only to meet them again later in life at another duty station. For Joy and her family it also meant sending her husband twice to fight in the Viet Nam conflict. Through it all Joy remained strong and lovingly determined. She made of herself a warrior in her own right, rising to every challenge, making life seem easy for her children, and when the time came the world would be hard pressed to find a grandmother, Nana, of equal quality anywhere. She made for herself and her family a life full of love, ironclad friendships, and connectedness in spite of distances. She involved herself in many crafts including sewing and cross stitch to decoupage, to decorative wood work, and eventually to mastery of the lathe.

When Joy finally came to Patriots Colony she brought energy, happiness, and friendship to everyone she met. She was very active within Patriots Colony: the Pipe Band, pickleball (before pickleball was cool), bocce ball referee, billiards, and volunteering as a Bingo caller and new resident ambassador. People who loved her point out that “She was the prom queen of Patriots Colony” and lead socialite of the 5th floor of Patriots Tower. Joy was a shining presence in every life she touched, and her absence will forever be felt.

Joy is survived by her children: CDR Seth F. Hudgins III, US Navy (retired), and his wife Jessica, of Clearwater, FL; Lance T. Hudgins and his wife Melissa, of Virginia Beach; and Meredith H. Snizek and her husband, Steve Snizek, of London, England; her grandchildren, Emma Snizek, Maxwell Hudgins, Ethan Snizek, Walker Hudgins, and Evelyn Snizek; by her siblings: Glen Schelhammer and his wife Clare Sterck Schelhammer of Atlanta, Georgia, and Carol Schelhammer Barnard and her husband, Tom Barnard of Savannah, Georgia. And various nieces and nephews who she adored. Joy’s parents preceded her in death. Her husband of 50 years, Seth, waits for her on a porch overlooking the coast of somewhere beautiful. When at last they make their reunion, here the sun will shine and it will rain. Tears of Joy.

With gratitude for all thoughts, prayers, and well wishes for Joy and her family, we request that in lieu of flowers donations be made in her name to Save the Children or any cancer/leukemia charity of your choice.

Funeral and celebration of life details are still being coordinated at Patriots Colony and at the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, where she will be interred alongside her husband. Confirmation of events will be updated here when known.