Freda Hudnall

PRINCETON - Freda June Hodge Hudnall was born March 2, 1933 to William Henry Hodge and Sylvia Perry Hodge in Cabin Creek, WV. She had four brothers, William Benjamen, Oliver Ray, Kermit Douglas and Larry Houston, and one sister, Shirley Ann Hodge Bailey, all deceased. She grew up in a happy home, full of music, and had great memories of Christmas with baby dolls, toy trains and tricycles for the boys. At a young age her mother taught her the notes on the piano and how to play Rock of Ages. It turned out she had a natural gift for music and was soon playing piano by ear and became the pianist at Decota Methodist Church. Her brother, Oliver, affectionately known as Tody, had joined the Airforce and a chance walk by his locker by a handsome young M.P. led to a fairy tale romance. The Officer saw her picture and inquired if she was a girlfriend. When Tody replied with my sister, a letter was sent and a relationship bloomed. They met officially in December of 1954 and were married February 5, 1955. Ed Hudnall had signed a contract to play professional baseball with the Baltimore Orioles organization. After the wedding, they took off to Florida for Spring Training and then to Canada where Ed played minor league baseball. Baseball did not work out for Ed, so they returned to West Virginia where their daughter was born. After that came a serious of jobs and many moves across multiple states including Ohio, Kentucky, Maryland, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Alabama. For a long time, they called Kettering, Ohio, home and were deeply involved with Marshall Road Church of God. Everywhere they lived, they were involved with a church where Freda directed choirs and played piano. Her gospel choirs were famous and sang across the country. The members loved singing in her choirs and tremendously enjoyed her annual Christmas parties. Every time they got together with their friends, there was singing involved and they both took great delight in praising their Lord and Savior with music. Eventually Ed went to work for Walmart where his career took off in a big way. Through all this Freda supported him and followed wherever the job led. Her favorite Walmart story was the time she met Joe Namath in person, and he threw her over his shoulder and carried her around. They had many more adventures before retiring in their dream house in Princeton, West Virginia. They were married for fifty-six wonderful years before he passed. Freda spent her final years living close to her daughter in Winston Salem, North Carolina. She passed away on Monday, September 15, 2025. She is survived by her daughter, Cindy Holby, son-in-law Rob, grandsons, Josh and Drew, Drew's wife Laura, and great-grandsons Hayes and Beau. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law Thelma Hodge and Faye Hodge, a special niece, Debi Hodge Betsill, along with numerous other nieces and nephews. A celebration of life including lots of wonderful music will be held on Friday, September 26 at Landmark Church of God, 290 Sackett Rd. Princeton, WV 24739. The family will receive friends at 11:00 with the service at 12:00 led by Pastor Scott Hodge. Burial at Roselawn Memorial Gardens will be at 2:00 and then fellowship after. Donations in her memory may be made to Landmark Church of God. Donations can also be sent to Friends of Stokes Shelter, 1111 Dodgetown Road. Walnut Cove, NC 27052. As blue was her favorite color, the family requests that blue be worn in celebration of a life well lived. The family would also like to express their appreciation to Arbor Ridge of Stanleyville, the Palliative Care Unit of Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center, and Mountain Valley Hospice. Arrangements by Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.bailey-kirk.com.