Jacque Lynn (Childress) Hudgens, 77, widow of Rev. Lance Edward Hudgens, died on Thursday, November 21, 2024. Born in Wagoner, Oklahoma, on December 17, 1946, she was a daughter of the late Norvin and Margaret Sue Anderson Childress.

Jacque grew up in Wagoner Oklahoma and was proud to have never missed a day of school. She graduated from Wagoner High School as her class salutatorian. Jacque graduated from the University of Oklahoma where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and formed many lifelong friendships.

After graduation, she and a close friend moved to Princeton, NJ to teach elementary school and explore life in the Northeast. Jacque met her husband Lance through a Bible study he was leading at Princeton Seminary.

Jacque and Lance married in August of 1972 and moved to their first home in Hyattsville, MD. All three of their children were born there. They began their ministry in Maryland at Wallace Memorial Presbyterian Church. They were blessed to be mentored and discipled by Glen and Betty Jane Knecht.

Hospitality was one of Jacque's special gifts and she loved hosting Sunday lunches with church members. Jacque also felt blessed to disciple many of the young ladies in the church. Her sister Judy and her husband Marty also lived in Maryland at this time. Jacque loved Judy and being with Judy. She greatly treasured their relationship and their time together throughout her entire life.

In 1986 the family moved to Columbia, SC after receiving a call to First Presbyterian Church. Jacque continued her hospitality ministry as a way to love and serve others. She was a part of a Bible Study that became very close as they raised their young families. Jacque taught the second grade Sunday school class for many years. As her children grew up she worked as a Speech Pathologist in Richland/Lexington District 5.

After 18 years of ministry at First Presbyterian, she and Lance were called to Central Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, Missouri. They were blessed through the many wonderful friendships formed over the next 7 years until Lance's retirement. They also treasured their weekly times of fellowship with a very dear couple from their days in Princeton. Jacque loved reading and spending time with her dear friends in a book club.

She was very excited to move back to Columbia, as her grandchildren were a source of great joy in her life. She loved spending time with them, baking with them, and attending their events. She also started a book club in Columbia once she moved back. She greatly enjoyed the books and the fellowship with these ladies. She again mentored young women in the church as well as young pastor's wives.

Jacque was a lifelong sports fanatic and loved Oklahoma and South Carolina basketball and football. She could often be heard yelling, "Go Cocks!" or "Boomer Sooner!" and other such whoops from the living room. Jacque loved her exercise class at the church on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. The workout was a priority for her, and she did not like to miss.

Jacque also had a special relationship with a group of couples they met while they lived in Princeton. This group took a summer trip together for over 40 consecutive years. The women in the group were some of Jacque's closest friends and prayer partners.

Jacque had a passion for God's word and her children could find her every morning having her time with the Lord in prayer and reading the Bible. She was committed to doing this. She cherished this time and used it to pray for all those God had put in her life. She would spend her entire life praying relentlessly for her children in their walks with the Lord and often for the children of her friends. Jacque's nearness to the Lord through Scripture and her time in communion and prayer were a ministry to others.

Survivors include her sons, Jonathan Edward Hudgens (Elizabeth) and Gregory David Hudgens (Lauren); daughter, Kristin Hudgens Cason (Frank); grandchildren, Margaret Copeland Hudgens, Jonathan Edward Hudgens, Jr., Jane McCrary Hudgens, Jacquelyn Theresa Hudgens, Edward Blanton Hudgens, Gibson Childress Hudgens, Margaret Anderson Hudgens, Frank Walker Cason, Jr., Claude Anderson Cason and Jane Martin Cason. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Hudgens was preceded in death by her older sister Karen Carr. Surviving siblings are Philip Childress and Judy Rabenhorst (Marty).

The service for Mrs. Hudgens will be held at 2 o'clock, Monday, December 2nd, in the Sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church, 1324 Marion Street, Columbia, with the Rev. Dr. Neil Stewart and the Rev. Dr. Mark Ross officiating. The family will receive friends following the service in Jackson Hall at the church. A private burial will precede the service in the churchyard. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family.

Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 1324 Marion Street, Columbia, SC 29201.