Donald Lee Hudson

It is with heavy hearts that we announce that the beloved Reverend Donald Lee Hudson of Baltimore, MD, passed away on Friday, August 29, 2025 at the age of 78.

Lee was born on May 3, 1947 in Camden, NJ to Donald Scott Hudson and Edna Mae Hudson. His family eventually moved to Springfield, VA, where he attended John R. Lewis High School (formerly Robert E. Lee High School), graduating in 1965. He graduated from University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts in History in 1970. He received a Master of Divinity from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg in 1974, and was ordained into the Holy Ministry of Word and Sacrament in the former Lutheran Church in American, now the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He also received a Master of Sacred Theology from Union Theological Seminary in 1981.

From his ordination in 1974 until his formal retirement in 2014, Lee served numerous congregations across four states. He was called to serve at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Mount Jackson, VA (1974-77); Christ Lutheran Church in York, PA (1977-80); Calvary Lutheran Church in Bronx, NY (1980-81); Friedens-Trinity Parish in Baltimore, MD (1984-85) and Messiah English Lutheran Church in Baltimore, MD (1985-2014), where he was the longest serving pastor in the congregation's history. Even after his formal retirement, he continued to serve, stepping into the role of interim pastor at Saint Mark's Lutheran Church, in Baltimore, MD, Divinity Lutheran Church, in Towson, MD, and Saint Luke's Lutheran Church, Baltimore, MD.

In addition to his dedicated service as a congregational pastor, Lee began serving as the Maryland Director of the Lutheran Office of Public Policy in 1998, and continued to serve as an advocate for his faith community until his death. He was a founding board member of Maryland Health Care for All, served on the board of the Southeast Senior Housing Initiative, and worked with Jubilee Baltimore to bring low-income senior housing to Canton. He was a longtime member and leader of the Maryland Interfaith Legislative Coalition. Lee was a pillar of the Canton and Butcher's Hill neighborhoods and of the Baltimore faith community; his loss will be deeply felt by many.

Lee is survived by his wife of 38 years, Gail Marie Hudson of Baltimore, MD; his four children, Peter Hudson and wife, Jasmine; Andrew Hudson and wife, Mary Fratini; Michael Hudson and partner, Devan Seawood; and Emily Hudson and partner, Jack Brimm. He is also survived by his siblings, Donna Hudson-Bryant and David Hudson, and their families, and cousins Janet Hudson, Janice Morris, and Don Morris, and their families.

Lee was a dedicated and loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle, cousin, pastor, community leader, and a tireless advocate for social justice; his legacy of kindness and love will endure.

A service to remember and celebrate his life will be held at Saint Mark's Lutheran Church on Saturday, September 6th at 11am (1900 Saint Paul St, Baltimore, MD 21218); a reception will be held at the church, following the service. We hope you will join the family for this service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Lutheran World Relief (https://lwr.org/ways-to-give) or Global Refuge (https://www.globalrefuge.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/).