Claude "Al" Alvin Hudgins, Jr.

Al Hudgins, age 77 died on February 1, 2026 in Savannah, Georgia.

Born on March 12, 1948 in Atlanta, Georgia to Barbara Smith Hudgins and C. Alvin Hudgins, Sr.; he spent his early years in the Salem Community near Pine Mountain, Georgia before moving to Manchester, Georgia with his mother and Step Father, William J. Brooks.

Al spent his young adult years earning the interest of numerous colleges before playing football at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama. Al earned a BS in Business Management and Economics in 1970.

Al was a member of the 1965 football team from Manchester High School that won the North Georgia Championship. Al was extremely proud of his affiliation with the Blue Devil Team and maintained close contact with many of its members throughout the years.

While in Manchester, Al met the love of his life, Deborah Anne Beavers. They married in 1968 at the First Methodist Church. Their only child, William Dennis Hudgins, was born in 1970.

Shortly before graduating college, Al and Debbie moved to Savannah in 1971. They established careers together and built a life that they loved on the beautiful coast of Georgia.

After serving several years as Business Manager for Candler General Hospital, Al was employed with a fledgling pharmaceutical company; Marion Laboratories in Kansas City, Missouri. Here, Al excelled in Leadership and Sales for 40 years. Al’s original employee number was 151. At his retirement, the company (now known as Sanofi) headquartered in France, had over 95,000 employees worldwide. Al was justly proud of his career, leading through five mergers that grew the small midwestern company that had been established by entrepreneur, Ewing Marion Kauffman into a global entity. Throughout his career, Al received numerous awards for Leadership and Sales and he loved every single day he spent working.

Al Hudgins loved golf. For 38 years he was a member of The Landings Golf and Athletic Club and enjoyed participating in the Amana Blitz on Saturday mornings. Al enjoyed the best of the best and cherished every day on the courses on the coast. He was especially fond of his long association with the “Billy” Blitz at The Landings. Al spent many happy hours on and off the courses with the wonderful members that hailed from all points of the United States as well as international members.

After retirement, Al became active with the USO in Savannah where he served many hours assisting the USO in sending off and receiving troops through Hunter Army Airfield during the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. Al received the prestigious Rock of the Marne award for hisservice to the US Army during that time.

Al loved the Lord and was active as a member at Grace Methodist (Waters Ave.) and White Bluff Methodist (near the Truman Parkway). Al served in almost every leadership position in those churches and loved his Sunday School Classes, The Pairs and Spares at Grace and his wonderful Seekers class at White Bluff. Al and Debbie made many lifelong friends in both of these groups. In his later years, Al enjoyed singing bass in the choir at White Bluff.

Al Hudgins was a family man through and through. He loved his grandparents, parents, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins. Al followed his son, Dennis’ football and baseball careers and attended every outing and activity of his grands; Madison and T. Gaunt. Whether it was attending concerts and plays for Madison or driving all of the country to see Gauntt racing on motor speedways from Charlotte to Texas. Al bought a motor home to stay in and he and Debbie loved traversing the country for races.

Al led a full and perfectly wonderful life and he lived in joy and excitement for every day. His was a life well lived and his confident faith in God led him to step into Eternity on Sunday, February 1, 2026 thus ending his great adventure as a devoted believer and follower of Jesus Christ.

Preceding Al in death; his mother, Barbara Sellers; father, Claude Alvin Hudgins, Sr.; grandparents, Dennis and Ida Smith; WF and Nana Hudgins; Stepfather, “Daddy Bill” Brooks and brother-in-laws, Bobby Lucas.

Surviving Al are his wife of 56 years, Deborah Beavers Hudgins; son, William Dennis Hudgins (Cindy); grand-daughter, Madison Collette (Alan) and grandson T. Gauntt Hudgins. Sisters, Deborah Thompson (Bentley); Joy Brooks and Ann Vance. Nephews, Eric Thompson (Brandy), Blake Thompson; Bradley Driver and many other cousins and relatives in the Pine Mountain, Manchester, Thomaston, Hinesville and Savannah, Georgia areas.

Al's Memorial Service will be held at 11 o'clock Friday, February 6, 2026, at White Bluff Methodist Church with the Reverend Dr. Barry Giddens officiating.

Friends are invited to celebrate Al's life with a luncheon at the church following the memorial service.