Chauncey Hudson, The Man, The Legacy
An African American Prince whose main mission in life was to use his gifts and talents to not only to
advance self but the lives of others. He was born Nov. 16, 1895 to Nora (Woodward) & Thomas
Hudson in Homerville, Ga and brought to Valdosta at age one. Attended Valdosta city schools. He was
a born scholar, graduating from Tuskegee Normal Institute and immediately drafted in World War 1.
After receiving a honorable discharge as Sgt. Co. H. 802 Pioneer Inf. due to suffering from mustard gas
burns in France, he returned home and soon continued to pursue his love for education. June 8, 1923,
he graduated with honors from Howard University, with a Bachelors of Science in Commerce degree.
While at Howard he became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. 1923 was a momentous year for
Mr. Hudson; on June 8, 1923 he was amongst the first Black men to receive an officer’s commission as
Second Lieutenant Infantry, Officers Reserve Corps of the Army of the United States. In 1925 he
graduated from New York University, Graduate School of Business with an MBA degree, not afraid of
hard work and sacrifice he put himself through graduate school at NYU by working on a dinner river
boat at night. In 1929 he met and married the love of his life, the beautiful Miss Emily Goins, she
moved to Valdosta and they share a loving and successful life together until his death in 1949.
He soon became an advocate for Georgia’s Black Veterans of WW 11, because of his struggle with the
US Veterans Bureau that finally awarded him after a long fight $28.80 per month for his war injuries.
He organized the local American Legion post and served as the first commander for the Negro posts.
Mr. Hudson will be known most for his genuine love for people, his great euterperuer spirit and great
orator abilities. Much like his father Thomas Hudson was a Godly man, of strong character, integrity
and brilliance. His business abilities enabled him to continue his father’s and grandfathers legacy by
owning not just one but a chain of stores, opening his stores at 6:00 AM and closing at dark (midnight
on Saturdays) six days a week.
He followed a trend in buying and renting real estate that was started by his grandfather, Frank and
continued by his father, Tom. The Hudson’s were long standing contributors to decent housing for
working families which lead to the first and only Black housing project at that time, being named for
then and the Dockett family, who had the only Black owned drug store in Valdosta. The Hudson
Dockett Homes were dedicated in honor of these two families in 1951. The Black community paid
tribute to his business ability when they elected him the president of the Negro Chamber of
Commerce of Georgia.
The Hudson Legacy Continues After Death
Fifty-one years after Mr. Chauncey’s glowing obituary was written and ninety plus years after
his father opened Thomas Hudson Stores the 600 block of South Lee Street sits in need of
repair and ready for demolition by the city. The Hudson residents at 606 South Lee Street,
served as a beacon of light for the black community, its tall two story antebellum statue
stood high. It’s white paint, picket fencing and brick columns made it a structure to be
admired by any family. Built in 1906 by Mr. Thomas Hudson himself, sat in need of
restoration with the stables that once were built next to the 606 property already
condemned. The 600 block of South Lee Street across from the Hudson House also sat in
need of restoration, and was in danger of demolition from the city building inspector. These
properties served as the Thomas Hudson Stores headquarters, a chain of 4 stores he founded
in1906 and served the community for over 70 years.
The properties adjacent to the store was the warehouse for the store chain, later turned into
a home and met the needs of many families through the years. The next duplex (right) was
leased without cost to residential substance recovery program to provide housing for 4-6 in
recover as the last stage to their independence. Two other duplexes that sat on the 600 block
also served as housing for numerous black families through the years.
The Hudson Legacy Today
In 2002, after these properties had gone through many dwellers and stood in great need of
repair with the 600 block across the street from the Hudson house already condemned by the
city, God divine plan began to once take shape.
Minister Elsie Napier received a call one evening from the niece of Mr. Chaucey and Emily
Hudson. Ms. Mattie Taylor lived in Marilyn but had heard about the Street Ministry, Minister
Napier had lead with the Sisterhood of TEACH under the overpass and wanted to talk to
Minister Napier about acquiring the Hudson House for her ministry’s activities. Time
progressed and Ms. Taylor, Minister Napier and Sister Joan Allen met. Mrs. Taylor was
blessed by the vision Minister Napier shared with her about reaching out to the community
and its needs. A note was taken out from the bank for 50,000.00 to cover the cost of the
Hudson’s House and the Ms. Taylor donated the properties on the 600 block to the ministry
of TEACH.
Today, in the Hudson House the community continues to be served. February 19, 2014
construction was completed for Daughters of Zion Refugee Center which sits in the 600 block
of the Hudson’s property that once sat the headquarters for the only Black chain of grocery
stores in the state of Ga., a warehouse, a housing for men who were pursuing services for
their drug addictions, and two large duplexes that provided shelter for hundreds of Black
families through the years.
The Daughters of Zion Refuge Center and the TEACH Outreach Center are built on the dreams
of the past and the hopes of the future that “We Are Our Brothers Keeper”. The Hudson’s
legacy has empowered us and given us a road map to success as a ministry and as people
God. We must endeavor to forever keep the dream alive…….