Bernice Alice Bell Hudson was born March 25, 1922 and found rest with the Lord on June 2, 2018. She is preceded in death by her husband John Wesley Hudson, her son Gregory Earl Hudson and a daughter Yancena Marie Jackson. She was a member of Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church. As a member she served with the Mission Department, she was a Sunday School Teacher, President of the Hospitality Committee, she was a Choir Member; soloist, as well as any position with a need in her church. She was also active in the Mobile District Sunlight Association. She was an entrepreneur, owning multiple restaurants and a catering business. She was a phenomenal lover of people. She worked diligently for 50 plus for her community. Above all she was a servant of God.

Her community efforts and involvements included being the President of the Oakdale Community Service Club, a member of the United Methodist Council, a member of the Executive Board of Mobile Community Organization, a commissioner on the Keep Mobile Beautiful commission, the YWCA Board of Directors for three consecutive terms, and a member of Mobile Mental Health Advisory. She was the recipient of numerous awards to include two resolutions from the State of Alabama by Dr. Yvonne Kennedy and Senator William “Bill” Menton, the Martin Luther King Non-Violent Pursuit of a Dream Award, a Christian Women of the 80’s Award, several M.O. Beale Scroll of Merit Awards, the Social Action Award; presented by Phi Beta Sigma, the Distinguished Volunteer Service Award, and the Mobile Community Organization Service Award to name a few. She was a community leader and an activist who fought for many program for her community and stood up against social injustice anywhere. She is most noted for her fight against City Hall to keep a jail from being built at Hartwell Field, a cite in her community.

She leaves to cherish her memories three daughters: Mildred Smalls, Bernadette (Zienhoum) Abdelhafiz, and Ophelia Perkins; one nephew: Rev. Charles (Barbara) Bradley; eight grandchildren: Joseph (Catherine) Smalls, Anitra Smalls, Tabitha (Antonio) Duhart, Erica Massey, Tareck Abdelhafiz, Toya Hudson, A’lelia Hudson, Nyisha Holliday; nine great grandchildren: Justin Wilcox-Smalls, Nigil Smalls-Brown, Niles SmallsStriveson, Danielle Smalls, Tania Duhart, Tony Duhart, Stephanie Goudeau, Derrick Feurtado II, Kemari Penn. She leaves five godchildren: Clentonia Garror, Donald Turner Sr., Reynold Perkins, Alvin Reese, C’archer “CJ” Small Jr. and Luscious Bernard Young. A host of nieces and nephews, cousins, two devoted: Clarence Evans and Robert (Lois) Evans; devoted friends: Mary Young, Eloise Brown, Bessie Reese, Hattie Williams, Tom and Betty Mixon, and Yvonne Pinkney; church family; the Oakdale Community and the City of Mobile.

Her remains will lie in state on Friday, June 8, 2018, 5-8pm at Smalls Mortuary, Mobile, AL. A visitation will be held on Saturday, June 9, 2018 from 9am until the 11am “Celebration Of Life” service at Friendship MB Church, 545 Cody Rd., Mobile, AL. Interment will follow in Whispering Pines Cemetery-Eight Mile, AL.

DIGNIFIED AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ENTRUSTED TO SMALL'S MORTUARY, 950 S. BROAD ST., MOBILE, AL., 36603.

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