Judith Hudson Coggins

Obituary: Kannapolis, NC- Judith Anne Hudson Coggins, died in her Kannapolis home on September 12, 2015 at the age of 69. Over the past five years, she lived with hope, determination, courage, and dignity in spite of her difficult diagnosis of cancer. Born to Marion B. Hudson and Gladys Roberson Hudson on November 19, 1945 in Norfolk, Virginia, Judy graduated from Roanoke Rapids High School in 1964. She moved to Charlotte, earning her associates degree at Kings College in 1965 and began her career as church administrator at Hawthorne Lane UMC in Charlotte, NC. Judy met Lonnie on a blind date in 1972 as he was serving in the Air Force. They dated mostly long distance before marrying at Centergrove Lutheran Church in 1974. They moved to Fayetteville where Judy worked as a civil servant at Pope Air Force Base until her son, Anthony, was born in 1976. In Fayetteville, they found great friendship and community in their church family through the CIA Sunday school class at Campground UMC. Judy, Lonnie and Anthony moved to Kannapolis in 1987 where she began work again at various local United Methodist churches as church administrator. She passionately served with excellence, integrity, steadfastness, and a servant's heart ending her career with ten years serving the congregation of Trinity UMC. Judy expressed her love for Christ by serving her community with care and joyfully volunteering for local organizations such as Christian Cooperative Ministries, her Neighborhood Homeowners Association, the Boy Scouts, and CVAN, the local battered women's shelter. She also enjoyed fellowship and volunteerism with the Zenophia Murph Circle through Mount Olivet UMC. With other dear friends, she served the local schools through the church's backpack food ministry. She held various leadership roles for her beloved garden club, the Kneeling Gardeners, which raised monies for local needs. Judy leaves behind her husband, Lonnie Dale Coggins; son Anthony Ray Coggins and daughter-in-law Jennifer Hibbert Coggins of Charlotte, NC; and her three grandchildren, Rainer, Adelaide, and Emma who affectionately called their grandmother Gigi. She leaves behind nieces and nephews Marie Orr of Virginia Beach, VA, Madeline Wolk of Bridgeton, NJ, Kristie Witt of Bedford, VA, Jerry Hudson and Michael Hudson both of Bedford, VA. She is preceded in death by her brother, Robert Marion Hudson. Judy also leaves many extended family members and dear friends. A Witness to the Resurrection for Judy will be held at 11:00 on September 16, at Mount Olivet United Methodist Church with a graveside service at Centergrove Lutheran Church Cemetery immediately following the service. Visitation for friends and family will be held at Whitley's Funeral Home from 6:00 - 8:00 pm on September 15. The family requests that memorials be made to CVAN (http://www.cvan.org/ PO Box 1749, Concord NC 28026). The family wishes to thank Dr. Gary Frenette and his nursing and office staff for their wonderful care and support for Judy throughout the years following her diagnosis. On-line condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com
Visitation: 6:00 - 8:00 PM Tuesday September 15, 2015 Whitley's Funeral Home

Service: 11:00 AM Wednesday September 16, 2015 Mt. Olivet UMC

Interment: Center Grove Lutheran Church Cemetery