Esther Sue Hudson

Esther Sue Hudson passed away on Tuesday, May 14, 2013, at the age of 100. She was born in Princeton, Indiana on August 13, 1912. She came to Biloxi with her first husband, J.E. “Eddie” Johnston in the early forties. They owned and operated the Avelez Lounge located in the Avelez Hotel on Howard Avenue. It became the Earle Hotel. They opened the Question Mark Lounge that was next door to the Old Elks Lodge on Lamuse Street across the street from City Hall now. Years after she married retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant, Harold Hudson. Both of them worked at the Buena Vista Hotel until they retired from working. After retiring from having worked extremely hard, she began to traveling and helping out as a tour guide on most trips to defray cost of travel. Esther managed to visit six continents, all but Antarctica before she quit traveling. She was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Biloxi and one of the leaders in the Seniors 50 and over group. Esther still had a driver’s license and drove her car, until her doctor asked her to quit when she was approaching 97. In February of 2010 she moved into Sunplex Sub-acute Center where she lived until her death Tuesday. Our family wishes to extend thanks to all those employees and staff for taking care of her needs and wishes, making her final journey as peaceful as possible. We will be forever grateful to all of them and even though it was just in the last few days, we also appreciate Community Hospice overseeing her final days. Mrs. Hudson is preceded in death by her parents, Walter Sidney and Sadie Catherine Tompkins; brothers, Lawrence and Noble; sister, Susie Tompkins; and husband, Harold Hudson. Survivors include son, Richard Johnston; daughter in law, Janet Tremmel Johnston; grandchildren, Christopher (Stacey), Kenneth (Tricia), R.E. “Ricky”, Mark (Debbie), Stacey Johnston; sixteen great grandchildren and spouses; and two great great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, please consider donation to the First Baptist Church of Biloxi Scholarship Fund. Send your contribution to 1560 Popps Ferry Road, Biloxi, MS 39532. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 12:30 p.m. at the Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home. Friends may visit one hour prior. Burial will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com