Raleigh, NC: Mr. Marion “Ray” Hudson, age 85, of Perrin Place passed away on Saturday, October 17, 2026 at Hillcrest of Raleigh Nursing Home in Raleigh. Funeral Services will be held-2:00 PM Thursday, October 22, 2026 at Rose and Graham Funeral Home in Benson. The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM to 1:45 PM prior to the service. Officiating will be Rev. Don Cashwell. Burial will follow in Banner Chapel Advent Christian Church Cemetery in Benson.

Mr. Hudson was born on October 12, 1941 in Putnam County, West Virginia to the late Marshall and Ruth Jordan Hudson. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his sons, Chris Hudson and Phillip Hudson. A proud U.S. Air Force veteran, he began his professional career with IBM, a journey that took him across the United States and to many countries around the world. Beyond his career he loved his Lord and Savior and had a deep love for gospel music and shared his talents as a bass singer in gospel quartets and as a member of the Creedmoor Road Baptist Church Choir. He was a member of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in Raleigh. He also enjoyed playing the trumpet and saxophone and brought joy to many through his work as a DJ for Shrine, Moose, and Elk Lodges. A true people person, he loved to talk, make connections, and share a laugh, often with his signature dry wit and wonderful sense of humor. He was a devoted fan of both the Carolina Panthers and the Dallas Cowboys, had a lifelong passion for studying history, and enjoyed ham radio as a proud member of the Johnston Amateur Radio Society. Above all, he will be remembered for his love of music, his curiosity about the world, his gift for conversation, and the warmth and laughter he brought to the lives of those who knew him.

Surviving includes his wife of 34 years, Shirley Whitman Hudson; children, Edward Hudson and wife, Manuela, Marion Anderson and husband, Danny, and Vicki Thompson; step-son and family, Michael McLamb, his wife, Amy, and their son, Davis; and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren.

The family appreciates your thoughts and prayers during this time.

Flowers are welcomed.

Arrangements by Rose and Graham Funeral Home, Benson, NC.