Geraldine "Gerry" Hudson Fornes

Geraldine (Gerry) Hudson Fornes of Apex, NC died on March 2, 2015 after a several year battle with declining health. Gerry was a devoted and loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many. She was always a highly compassionate and forgiving person who was very considerate of others and especially those less fortunate. She had a wonderful sense of humor that brightened the spirits of those around her. She maintained that sense of humor and concern for others even in her final weeks of life. Gerry was born on January 18, 1942 in the Black Jack Community of Pitt County. She was the second of three children of Jasper Dean and Ruth Haddock Hudson. From them she learned the value of hard work, honesty, and respect for others with principles founded on the Christian faith. She graduated from Chicod School in 1960 and subsequently earned her Bachelors degree in 1964 from East Carolina College (now East Carolina University). Upon completion of college, she moved to Great Bridge, VA where she taught school for two years before returning to North Carolina to marry her lifelong sweetheart, Raymond Fornes. She continued her teaching career over the next thirty years with breaks to stay home after giving birth to her three children, Raymond Earl Jr. and twins Timothy Dean and Gregory Todd. She was viewed widely as a great and loving teacher who was often sought out for advice. Decades after having been taught by Gerry, former students who spotted her in public frequently wanted another hug from Mrs. Fornes. She openly shared her ideas and time freely with her colleagues, routinely mentored younger teachers, and often spent large parts of her weekends and vacation periods searching and using personal funds for additional resource materials for her classroom. Over the years she took a number of graduate courses at NC State University to enhance her teaching. Not long after she retired from teaching, she established a personal motto she called HOPE. It stood for Help One Person Everyday. Those who knew her well felt she lived up to that motto as long as she was capable of doing so. Gerry especially enjoyed family time. She was an amazing mother and grandmother, sacrificing endless amounts of time and energy to enrich the lives of her children and grandchildren. Her family was always the most important component in her life. Her love was also expressed through her terrific cooking, which pleased her greater family and friends. Gerry enjoyed the numerous family vacations and the travels with her husband to places around the world. She was a devoted member of her faith and strong supporter of her church. She had many, many close friends. Lastly, Gerry will be remembered by her effervescent personality that was rooted in making people, both familiar and unfamiliar, feel better through laughter and good conversation. Gerry is survived by Raymond Earl Fornes, Sr., her husband of nearly 49 years; sons Raymond Earl Fornes, Jr. of Cary NC, Timothy Dean Fornes and wife Melanie McDougall Fornes of Apex, NC, and Gregory Todd Fornes and wife Christine Jane Fornes of Boston, MA; grandchildren Chassity Kayla Trice, Emma Rae Fornes and Addie Ruth Fornes; brothers Jasper Donald Hudson and wife Judith, and Gary Wayne Hudson and wife Sharon of Black Jack, NC; brother-in-laws Joe Tucker Fornes, Robert Lee Fornes and wife Sue of Pitt County, NC, Jimmy Ray Fornes and wife June of Angier, NC, and sister-in-law Susan Fornes Garverick and husband Tom of Ringgold, GA; a number of special nieces and nephews, cousins and other relatives. In lieu of flowers for those who wish to make a contribution in recognition of the life of Gerry, the family suggests a donation to the Salem Baptist Church in Apex, NC, where Gerry has been a member for more than 40 years; to the Alzheimers Foundation; or to the Raymond and Gerry Fornes Endowment at NC State University in the College of Sciences. The family members express appreciation to the staff at Universal Healthcare in Fuquay-Varina for the wonderful care given to Gerry during the final few weeks of her life. In recognition of Gerrys wonderful life, a memorial service will be held at 3 PM on Saturday, March 7th, 2015 at the Salem Baptist Church followed by a reception with family members in the fellowship hall of the church. Burial will take place at the Salem Baptist Church Cemetery in a private family ceremony prior to the memorial. Condolences or comments to the family may be made to www.ApexFuneral.com