Grady Vernon Hudgins

Grady Vernon Hudgins, 86, of Susan, passed away on Saturday, August 23, 2025, peacefully surrounded by family in his home. He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Riddle Hudgins; sister, Mary Melissa Hudgins; and parents, Mary Ozelma Hunley and Grover Randolph Hudgins.

Grady leaves behind his son, Sterling (Kathryn); honorary daughter, Brenda Moore; grandchildren, Madeline Hudgins (John), Morgan Schultz (Jeff), and Ray Hudgins; niece, Vaneesa Davis (Arnold); great-nephew, Blain Davis, and many other beloved family members.

On February 28, 1939, Grady was born in New Point and spent his entire life in Mathews County. He grew up working on the waters of the Chesapeake Bay, crabbing and fishing with his father and grandfather, until he became a home builder later in life.

In 1985, Grady and his son, Sterling, joined together to form H & H Construction, Inc. In 1997, they opened M & M Building Supply, Inc. in Port Haywood, named after his granddaughters, whom he cherished. Grady was often seen making crab pots on his bench or passing out candy to every child that entered the store.

When he wasn’t at the store, Grady loved watching baseball in his free time, cheering on his grandchildren at school and sporting events, and going out to eat at one of the many restaurants in the county. He always made sure he saved room for dessert.

Grady’s love spread beyond his family, for he never met a stranger. Whether you saw him having a cup of coffee at M & M in Port Haywood, welcoming customers at M & M in Mathews Courthouse, or anywhere in between, Grady greeted friends and strangers alike with an open hand and probably a joke, too.

Both Grady and his family are grateful for the many treasured friends and neighbors he made while living in Mathews County, who have shown him so much kindness over the years. He will be missed by all.

The family would like to thank his caretakers and the Miller Family of Millers Lane for all their love and generosity and the community of Mathews for allowing him to spread his own kindness to everyone he met.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at Faulkner Funeral Homes, Foster-Faulkner Chapel, Mathews, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, August 28, 2025, at the funeral home, followed by an entombment service at St. Paul Annex Cemetery, Susan. Friends are welcome to join the family for a reception at Beulah Church in New Point.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Beulah Church c/o Kay Strigle, 1130 Lighthouse Rd, Bavon, VA 23138; Mathews Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 1130, Mathews, VA 23109; or Mathews Volunteer Rescue Squad, 94 Cricket Hill Rd, Hudgins, VA 23076.