Just two months shy of her 99th birthday, Salome Ward Hudgins, a native of Mathews, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015 at the Riverside Convalescent Center in Mathews.

She was born on Feb. 10, 1917, the youngest child of Ira and Maggie Morgan Ward and the sister of Willis Ward and Mabel Owens. Salome was predeceased by her husbands, Genious Hudgins Jr. and Powell F. Hudgins; her son-in-law, Vincent Pritchett, and her great-granddaughter, Abigale Casper.

She is survived by her two daughters, Vicki Pritchett of Mathews and Arlene Connelly (Pat) of Norfolk; five grandchildren, Jonathan Pritchett (Jodi) of Bend, Ore., Jenny Pritchett (Steve Casper) of Mathews, Jesse Narron (Jennifer Lee) of Richmond, Jill Bailey of Mathews, and Spencer Narron (Jenny) of Portland, Ore.; nine great-grandchildren; 12 nieces and nephews, a large extended family, and many friends who will miss her. 

Salome was a loyal and lifelong member of Bethel United Methodist Church, Onemo, Va. She loved hymns and hymn singing. She was kind, gentle and patient with a positive outlook in all situations. While she enjoyed homemaking tasks, especially gardening, cooking and sewing, which she shared with her family and friends, she always had time to sit and talk.

The family wishes to thank all those who have helped her these last few years, especially the CNAs, nurses, other staff and Hospice at the Riverside Convalescent Center in Mathews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Bethel UMC, 1459 Garden Creek Road, Mathews, Va. 23109 or to the Abigale Lee Casper Children’s Fund, c/o The Mathews Community Foundation, P.O. Box 1037, Mathews, Va. 23109, or to a charity of your choice.

Visitation was at 2 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 7, 2015, at the Foster-Faulkner Funeral Home, Mathews, with the funeral service at 3 p.m. Burial followed at Pear Tree Cemetery, Onemo.