Ollie Thomas Hudson, Jr.

Former Owner and Consultant of Hudson Funeral Home-Durham

Ollie Thomas “Tommy” Hudson, Jr, 73, passed away peacefully January 9, 2026, at Duke University Medical Center.

Mr. Hudson was born July 10, 1952, in Durham to the late Ollie Thomas Hudson, Sr. and Hilda Pendergraft Hudson.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by a brother Timothy Bryant Hudson.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Mary Carter Hudson; daughter, Olivia “Brooke” Hudson; sister, Trina Hudson Campbell and husband Steve; sister-in-law, E. Elizabeth Carter; brother-in-law, Joseph W. Carter, III and wife Caryn; nephews, Christopher Bryant “Chris” Hudson, Corey Campbell and friend Laura Kellems, and Joseph W. Carter, IV and wife Aliki; nieces Catherine Carter Mosser and husband John, Lauren Carter Boone and husband Brock; great nephews, Carter John Mosser and Brooks Carter Boone; several other cousins and family members.

Mr. Hudson attended Fort Union Military Academy in Virginia. He was a 1970 graduate of Durham High School and was a graduate of Indiana School of Mortuary Science and the National Foundation of Funeral Service. He was former member of the Durham City Council and was the youngest member elected at that time. He was a 3rd degree Mason and a member of the Oak Grove Masonic Lodge 750, the Amram Shrine and Triangle Shrine Club. Mr. Hudson was a past member of the Oak Grove Exchange Club, Oak Grove Ruritan Club serving as President 1991 - 1992, Durham Exchange Club and Durham Sertoma Club Sertoman of the year and serving a President from 1980 -1981 and 1976 -1977. He served in several leadership roles with those organizations. He served with several colleagues in The Taylor Study Group in previous years. He was a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer since 1973.

Mr. Hudson dedicated his entire career to the funeral profession and was proud of his heritage as a third-generation funeral director. He became the owner of Hudson Funeral Home following the death of his father, Ollie Hudson, Sr., in 1984. Together with his wife, Mary, they grew Hudson Funeral Home at its new location beginning in 1986, serving countless families in Durham and the surrounding communities with compassion, dignity, respect, and care. Tommy loved his profession and his community, always striving to help lighten the burden for families during their time of grief. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday January 13, 2026, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Hudson Funeral Home.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. in the Hudson Funeral Home Chapel. Reverend Hugh O’Shields will officiate the service.

Interment with Mason rites will be at Brier Creek Memorial Gardens.

Serving as Pallbearers will be staff members of Hudson Funeral Home; Ray Watson, Chris Parsell, Caleb Hagwood, Jerrit Frazier, Kenneth Bullock and Rocky Perez.

Honorary Pallbearers will be colleague Funeral Directors.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Tommy’s memory to either:Duke Home Care and Hospice https://www.gifts.duke.edu/dmaa?technique_code=DHORGGB1