BOBBY HUDGENS

Bobby Lloyd Hudgens, 74, was born on September 10, 1948 and died March 21, 2023. He experienced Parkinson’s Disease for 6 years and Lewy Body Dementia for 3 years. He graduated from Southern State College in 1972 with a music education degree. There he met and married Donna Ferguson. In July 2023, they celebrated 50 years of marriage. Bobby taught public school music for four years while serving as a part time music/youth director locally. God called him into full time Christian service in 1976. His heart and passion was to faithfully serve God through music and Christian Education. He was a part of many significant changes and noteworthy achievements in the Baptist Missionary Association, especially during his 27 years of service at Temple Baptist Church and was instrumental in doubling the church’s attendance. He was involved in the International Student Ministry at UALR, the Little Rock El Samaritano Medical Clinic which provides free medical/dental care for the growing Hispanic community and served as a trustee/ board chairman of the BMA Moral Action committee for five years. From 2004-2013, he served at the Baptist Publishing House as Director of Research and Development. He was a patient, kind, encouraging, devoted servant of Christ and dearly loved his family. He was preceded in death by his parents Louise and Harold Hudgens. He is survived by his wife, Donna Ferguson Hudgens, his children; John Hudgens (Kristy Hudgens), Emily Price (Travis Price), Rebekah Brown (Nathan Brown), along with his sister Linda Simpson (Bill Simpson), his brother Terry Hudgens (Retha Hudgens), and 6 grandchildren; Kyle, Josie, Kinley, Camden, Eden and Ever. A celebration of his life will be at Smith-Benton Funeral Home: Visitation-March 28, 2023 (6-8PM) Funeral-March 29, 2023 (10AM), Burial- Sharon Missionary Baptist Cemetery. Services by Smith-Benton Funeral Home. www.SmithFamilyCares.com.