Shirley Hudson Babin

Shirley Hudson Babin, 72, of Laurel, died Sunday, August 3, 2008, at South Central Regional Medical Center in Laurel.A funeral service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, August 7, at Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel. Burial will be in Hickory Grove Cemetery. Dr. Randall Turner will officiate.Mrs. Babin was the first child of Rosalie Price Hudson and Howard A. Hudson Sr. She was educated in the Laurel City Schools and lived most of her adult life in Gulfport and in Houma, La. She returned to Laurel after the death of her husband, Frederick J. Babin, in 1992. She was an avid bowler, a superb cook and a trusted friend. Mrs. Babin and her husband operated Bell Instruments in Houma for many years. She served as the bookkeeper for the company. Mrs. Babin was a member of First Baptist Church of Laurel and served on the social activities committee at University Commons.She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband “Freddie;” a beloved aunt, Mrs. Louis (Bill) Ross; a great niece; Heather Roger; and a great nephew, Steven Brian Thornton.She was a precious sister and is survived by two brothers, Charles L. Hudson of Laurel and Howard Hudson Jr. of Navarre, Fla. and three sisters, Charlotte (Charles) Robine of Laurel, Martha (Jay) Cook of Frederickstown, Mo. and Karen (Larry) Thornton, Vicksburg, and Special Friend and Care-giver, Jane Allen.She was a favorite “Aunt Shirley,” dearly loved by a host of nephews and nieces, Eddie Rogers and Lane Rogers of Laurel, Michael Tullos, Houston, Texas, Howie Hudson, of Carriere, Robbie Hudson of Laurel, and Steven Thornton of Louisviille, Krista Skipper of Laurel, Lynda (Andy) Andrews, of Houston, Texas, Lori Lynne Lee, of Carriere, Tammy (Joe) Moore, of Hattiesburg, and Jennifer Thornton Sims of Vicksburg; great nephews and nieces, Aaron Rogers, Charlie Rogers, Scott Andrews Howie Hudson, III., Josh Hudson, Adam Hudson, Steven Thornton, and Cade Moore, K’La Skipper, Keely Skipper, Jennifer Tullos, Allison Hudson, Whitney Hudson, Madison Hudson, and Ashlie Thornton; and great great nephew, Jordan Francis Schmidt.Pallbearers will be Dewey Blackledge Jr., Dennis Keveryn, Eddie Loper, David Williams, Charles Robine, Larry Thornton, and Jay Cook.Visitation will be from 5 until 8 p.m. Wednesday at Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel, which is in charge of the arrangements.