William Dale Hudson Sr.

CONWAY | William Dale Hudson Sr., legendary true crime writer and author of five published books, businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and coach, entered into eternal life, bowed his head, and met his Creator on Wednesday, August 12, 2009.

Well known on the southeast coast for his true crime books, Dale also spent more than a decade writing non-fiction humanitarian novels as well as fiction novels. He was currently working on two screenplays and has several unpublished books. Dale was an accomplished story-teller even among children and often visited the classrooms in elementary schools as well as assisting in high school and college classrooms with mature readings.

Dale pioneered assisted living homes specializing in Alzheimer's disease and dementia in the state of South Carolina and in 1983 opened the first facility of its kind in our state. He was the president/CEO, owner/operator of Pinedale Residential Centers Assisted-Care Living Facilities in both South and North Carolina for two decades as well as a licensed facility administrator for more than 25 years. He was currently working on a book entitled, Alzheimer's Disease: A New Perspective for an Aged Problem and a short film, A New and Creative Approach to the Care and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease in an Institutional Setting.

As the president of Eldercare Consultants & Associates he served as a consultant and expert witness for many cases involving neglectful care of senior adults all over the United States. Serving as an expert witness and consultant, Dale only accepted cases that he truly believed were negligent. He was a true advocate for senior adults, especially those suffering from Alzheimer's disease and dementia and always treated our seniors with love and dignity.

Dale was an innovative public speaker, presenter, and seminar leader involving issues such as senior adult care and abuse, and forensic science/true crime. He led seminars and spoke all over the United States for over two decades. Dale was the president/CEO of We Carp Corporation.

In 1998, Dale became a licensed forensic counselor and also appeared in several documentaries that aired on television in both the U.S. and Europe. His enjoyment of forensics coupled with his love of writing, lead to his involvement with true crime.

Dale loved teaching and held master's degrees of education, divinity and psychology. He was a thesis away from receiving his doctorate in psychology. He taught social psychology at Francis Marion University in 1996.

Dale graduated from Camden High School in 1970. He earned an Associate of Arts in 1972 from Anderson College and in 1974 he earned a Bachelor of Arts (English) from the University of South Carolina in Columbia. He then attended both Wake Forest and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary where he acquired a Master of Divinity. Dale obtained a Master of Education in 1982 from the University of South Carolina and received 30 hours of specialized classes in psychology, research, biological behavior, aging, memory and learning, and abnormal psychology. In 1978 he served his internship at William S. Hall Psychiatric Institute and S.C. State Hospital in Columbia. In 1995, he attended Francis Marion University and earned a master's in psychology. The field of study: biological behavior and neuropsychological assessment, as related to the care and treatment of those suffering from brain diseases and disorders. His internship in 1995 was at Carolina Rehabilitation Outpatient Clinic, Florence, in neuropsychological assessment of those suffering from brain diseases and disorders. He served another internship at Carolina Hospital Systems, Florence, in the assessment of dementia and Alzheimer's disease in the senior adult wards. Dale received his certification as an adult residential care administrator in the state of South Carolina in 1983. He had attended well over 50 courses in varied subjects related to this profession, accumulating more than 400 clinical educational unit hours.

Dale served as youth director at Wateree Baptist Church, Camden, and Bethune Baptist Church, Bethune. He became an ordained minister at Wateree Baptist Church, December 22, 1974, and began his stewardship in the Southern Baptist Ministry for 10 years.

In 2005, Dale, his wife, and two children, joined the Catholic Church at Saint Andrew Catholic Church, where they began a new spiritual path and grew in the Catholic faith.

From 1978 to 1985, he served as a U.S. Army National Guard Chaplin.

In addition to his professional career, Dale found time to coach baseball, soccer, football, and basketball. He coached for over 10 years for both his son, DJ Hudson; and daughter, Deegan Hudson. He touched the lives of countless children and teens through his gift of coaching. Coach Hudson always set a loving example and will be missed on the basketball courts, and the football, baseball and soccer fields. He taught the kids that winning the game isn't always what's important, it's the life changing lessons that we learn on the court or the field that really matters. ''No trophy or ribbon can ever take the place of what has taken place in your heart,'' he would say.

His masterful approach to writing, along with his love of history is what made Dale become one of the most accomplished writers in the South. Nonetheless, it was and always will be his love of all people, regardless of race, financial status, or gender that we will never forget about him. He will be missed more than words can say and more than any book or printed material can express. This world has lost an extraordinary man but our Creator has gained a new angel that will entertain the heavens with stories forever. Dale Hudson, we will never forget you. You changed this world with your beautiful smile and optimistic attitude. And even though our hearts are so completely broken and we feel as though they will never mend, we know that God has promised us that He will never place more on our shoulders than we can bear. As we mend from you leaving us so suddenly, He will carry us on His shoulders so that we all might carry on. Dale, we love you.

Surviving in addition to his mother and stepfather, Mr. and Mrs. Billy B. Byrd of Camden; are his wife, Deborah Hudson of Conway; one son, William Dale ''DJ'' Hudson Jr. of Conway; one daughter, Deegan Anne Hudson of Conway; one sister, Kathy Lynch and husband, Johnny, of Lugoff; one brother, Phil Hudson and wife, Robbie, of Camden; two nieces, Tierney Boone and husband, Brian, and Shauna Ray and husband, Jack; one nephew, Phillip Hudson; two great-nieces, Braytan Boone and Tristan Ray; and one great-nephew, Brennen Boone.

Mr. Hudson was preceded in death by his father, Elward William Hudson; grandparents, Tom and Connie Holden and Wesley and Marie Hudson; and a niece, Katherine T. Lynch.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, August 20, 2009 in Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel. Burial will follow at 4 p.m. at Wateree Baptist Church Cemetery, Camden.

The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, August 19, 2009 with a brief wake at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Please sign a guest book at goldfinchfuneralhome.com and at TheSunNews.com.

Memorials may be sent to St. Judes Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-2794.

Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel is serving the family.