Matthew Thomas Hudson, 28, departed this life on Monday, March 28, 2016, after a valiant three-year battle with cancer.

Born January 29, 1988, in Columbia, SC, he was the son of Thomas F. Hudson and the Rev. Kathy Priest Hudson. An outstanding varsity baseball player with the Druid Hills (GA) High School Red Devils, he was a graduate of both Young Harris (GA) College and the University of Georgia.

Matt was a longtime employee of Little Italy Restaurant in Athens, GA where he served as "CEO of Awesome." He loved the outdoors, hats of all varieties, Legos, his beard, the Baltimore Orioles, and the USC Gamecocks (the latter much to the chagrin of his UGA friends). He was a devotee of "Ancient Aliens," a voracious reader, a gifted writer, and an avid student of history. Among his favorite quotes was one from George Washington: "Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages," which helped inspire him, his family, and his friends throughout his illness. Matt certainly displayed plenty of both.

His dry sense of humor, wonderful mind, and beautiful heart will be lovingly remembered and intensely missed. The world will be a less enjoyable and thoughtful place without him. If you didn't know Matt, well, you should have.

Survivors include his mother, of Greenwood, SC; father and stepmother, Alisha, of Columbia, SC; twin brother, Palmer Priest Hudson, and his fiancé, Liz Marshall, Lancaster, SC; sister, Emily Victoria Hudson, Columbia, SC; uncles, Michael Priest (Janet), Irmo, SC, and Brad Priest, Mocksville, NC; cousins, Kristen Priest, Sanford, NC, McKenzie Priest, Irmo, SC and Jennifer Crotts Grubbs, and Anita Marie Pulaski of Mocksville, NC; great aunts, Anita D'Amato, Elgin, SC, and Marie Crotts, Mocksville, NC; his devoted canine buddy, Doc; as well as more friends than can be counted.

He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Raymond and Susan Hudson, and maternal grandparents, Gary and Stella Priest, who have been waiting for him with open arms and a Yoo-Hoo.

Matt's family members wish to extend their deepest thanks to Dr. Ranjana Bhargava and Dr. Gina D'Amato of Georgia Cancer Specialists, Dr. Maria Zarsour and Dr. Andrea Hayes Jordan of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX, the medical and nursing professionals of Northside Hospital, Atlanta, GA, Athens Regional Medical Center, Athens, GA, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and Self Regional Medical Center, Greenwood, SC, as well as Jay, Carolyn, and Veleka of Pruitt Hospice for all of their expertise, care, and compassion.

The family is also very grateful for the love, thoughts, prayers, and support offered by so many family members and friends during the course of Matt's illness.

A memorial service will be held 2 o'clock, Saturday, April 2nd at Rehoboth United Methodist Church with The Rev. Gary D. Phillips, The Rev. Doug Benton, and The Rev. Debra Quilling Smith officiating.. The family will receive friends following the service in the Christian Life Center. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to the cancer research foundation of one's choice.