Mrs. Earline Hudson

Mrs. Earline Mondell Hundley Hudson entered this world on May 2, 1919 in Huntsville, Alabama. She was the first child born to Thomas Earle and Nellie Donegan Hundley. Sharing in this joy was her paternal grandparents, Oscar and Mary Hundley. She was the first grandchild!

When Earline was five years old, the family which now included a sister, Nellie Mae Hundley and a brother, Ira Thomas Hundley moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Earline received all her public-school education in Cleveland and graduated from East High School. She was awarded a scholarship to Howard University but economically it was better for her to stay at home and go to college. She entered Flora Stone Mather College for Women, a branch of Western Reserve University. Earline was the only black student in her classes for the four years of college majoring in Sociology and History and was awarded a B.S. degree in 1941. After graduation she began teaching in the Cleveland Public Schools for a year before deciding she wanted to be a librarian. She entered Case Western Reserve and earned a B.S.L.S. in 1945. Earline furthered studies in Library Science at Case Western Reserve and earned a master’s degree in Library Science in 1958. In 1970 she earned a Ed.S. in Library Administration from George Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee.

Earline’s career as a Librarian spanned some 45 plus years from Public School Librarian in Cleveland, Ohio to the Head of Acquisitions at Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee when she retired in 1989. She held Professional Memberships in the American Library Association, Tennessee Library Association, Mid State Library Association, Southeastern Library Association, Resources and Technical Services Librarians, and Chapter of ALA under the Tennessee Library Association. She was also a member of Beta hi Mu (National Library Science Honorary Society.) She is listed in Who’s Who in Library Service, 1966, and the Dictionary of International Biography, 1968. She has several publications to her credit.

Earline pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in 1948 and was awarded Diamond Soror status in 2023. She served actively in Alpha Delta Omega, Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority for many years and served as the treasurer for the building of the Ivy Center. She and her sister-in-law, Ola G. Hudson travelled together to all of the regional meetings, boules, and special events. In 1956 after attending the AKA Boule in Atlanta, she came to visit a friend in Nashville. During that visit she was introduced to Robert Jackson Hudson and they began corresponding. In June 1958, Robert and Earline were united in Holy Matrimony. Earline not only became a devoted wife to “Bobby” but a loving mother to Ramona.

Family has always been an important part of Earline’s life. She and “Bobby” welcomed her mother into their home so she could age in place. After the death of her younger sister, Nellie, leaving three school age children, Roger, Denise and Karen, Earline assumed the responsibility to nurture, train, and educate them. Roger and Denise graduated from Tennessee State University and Karen graduated from Tuskegee. Earline had innate mothering skills. She lovingly exercised maternal care for her daughter, nephew, and nieces and grandchildren.

Earline’s spiritual training and nurturing began as a child at St. John AME church in Cleveland, Ohio. She was active in the Sunday School and served as Assistant Superintendent in the Senior Department. She united with St. John AME Church upon relocating to Nashville in August 1958. She worked with the Sunday School, served as Director of Christian Education, a member of the Missionary Society, President of the Carnation Board, and on the Board of Trustees. Earline has been recognized on many occasions for not only her service at St. John but throughout the 13th Episcopal District of the AME Church. Although her husband and extended family members attended Spruce Street Baptist Church, Earline often joined them in worship and fully supported many of their efforts. She referred herself as being “Metho-Baptist”

Earline loved her family – her husband and daughter were the “apple of her eye.” She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She loved family gatherings playing cards and clean living.

She leaves cherished memories to her devoted daughter and caregiver Ramona Hudson Pulce; her granddaughter, Reverend Angela Pulce Reed (Eric), and her grandson, Kenneth Pulce, Jr. (Lisa) a retired DEA Supervisor; 5 great grandchildren, Erique, E’Driana, Eric (Anna), Kendrick and Kennedy and 1 great-great grandson, Micah; Nieces, Margaret Brown Payton, Denice Douglas, and Karen Johnson; nephews, Richard T. Hudley, Roger W. Douglas; great nieces, Dana, Chandra, Carrie, Britnee, Brandee; great niece, Shameka, great-nephews, Roger, III, and Christopher; Goddaughter, Adrienne Fancher a host of nieces and nephews-in-love, two loving sisters-in-love, Rae Hudson Watkins and Ola G. Hudson; brothers-in-love, Andrew Hudson (Atlanta GA) and a host of other relatives and friends.

Earline’s family is blessed to have had her for so many years. Indeed, she was a virtuous woman, a vessel of love that she so willingly shared with all. May we always carry out her legacy. It is not the vast knowledge she possessed but the heart of love she shared with all who crossed her path, the time she took to listen and the willing heart she had to help others. Thank you, Lord, for the life of Earline Mondell Hundley Hudson.