Shirley Anne Hudgins
Our mother, Shirley Hudgins, a force of nature, gave herself a birthday present like no other by passing from her earthly ties to her heavenly home on March 12, 2025. She was 93. Roanoke was her home all her life until the last six weeks upon moving in with her daughter, Lynda, in Hopewell, VA where she passed away.She was the daughter of Clarence E. Roberts and Lillian Murray Roberts. She was born in Starkey, Virginia on March 12, 1932 but spent her childhood and teen years living with her family on Old Mountain road across from Ole Monterey golf course. She attended old William Fleming high school, however, a handsome young man from Crewe, VA moved in with his cousin next door and the rest is history. Parsha Hudgins (Bo) and mom were married on April 29, 1950 and were married nearly 56 years until his death in 2006. They went on to have four daughters who all survive her. Mom went to work for General Electric when the plant opened in 1959 in Salem, retiring in 1992. She loved her job and she loved her coworkers.Always young at heart, summer vacations to Emerald Isie, NC, Christmas, Fourth of July (with her fireworks and all), her Redskins, Easter egg hunts with the grandchildren, getting a deep tan, bowling, fishing the Currituck sound with Bo, slot machines, lottery tickets, cats, lunch with friends at the coffee shop are just some of the things that made her Shirley. To our dad she was Dynamite. She was proud to tell people that she and our dad attended seven Super Bowl games. She bowled on two leagues into her 80s.Nothing usually stood in her way. She fought dementia for over 11 years but it finally took her from us. Mom loved her church, Hollins Road Church of the Brethren where she sang in the choir until her health stopped her from attending church. Her favorite rides were to go out on Williamson road and then to ride by her church. She recognized it up until she left Roanoke six weeks ago.She is survived by her daughters Lynda Preas, Jennifer Byrd (Ronnie), DeeDee Shue (Brad) and Kathy York (Mark). Her grandchildren, Bert Lawton and Chandler Creasy, great grandchildren, Erin Lawton, Evan Lawton, Sydney Johnson, Matthew Lawton, Olivia Janney, Dustin Sarver, Zachary Sarver, Mila Creasy and great-great grandson, Trentin Janney. She is also survived by her sister, Catherine Sigmon and brother, Donald Roberts (Letty) and fur baby, Angie. She is predeceased by her parents, brothers Clarence, Tommy and Jimmy, grandchildren, Randy Sarver, Tina Sarver, Warriner Lawton and son-in-law, Jim Preas.We will truly miss her dominance, her drive, her zest, her determination to do things her way. She fought so hard and we take comfort that she is at peace and reunited with our dad. Rest in peace, Shirleybo.A celebration of Shirley’s life will be held 12:00 pm, Monday, March 17, 2025, at Lotz Funeral Home Roanoke Chapel, 1001 Franklin Rd. SW Roanoke, VA 24016 with Pastor Harold Boyd officiating. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 11:00 to 12:00 pm.
