Jewell Bell 'J.B.' Hudgins, Jr

Mr. Jewell Bell “J.B.” Hudgins, Jr., age 89 of Deer Chase Road, Toccoa passed away peacefully Wednesday, May 5, 2021 surrounded by his family at his residence.

A son of the late Jewell Bell Hudgins, Sr. and Altaleen Watson Hudgins, he was born January 21, 1932 in Dekalb County, Georgia but lived most of his life in Toccoa.  He was a 1949 graduate of Toccoa High School, having been a multi-sport athlete while in high school.  He graduated from Georgia Tech with a Degree in Industrial Management in 1953. While at Georgia Tech, he played football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets with Coach Bobby Dodd, was a member of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity and was in the Air Force ROTC.  He was an Air Force Veteran of the Korean War serving in the Security Service and stationed at Wheelus AFB in Tripoli, Lybia.  

J.B. owned and operated his family business, Hudgins Furniture Company from 1956 to 2003 which had been started by his father in the 1939.  He served in many leadership capacities in both the Presbyterian Church, where he had been a member for over 50 years before transferring to Toccoa FUMC.

J.B. was associated with many city and county government organizations including the following, Chairman of the Stephens County Board of Education, Chairman of the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce, Stephens County Library Board, Chairman of the SCHS Band Boosters, Chairman of the Stephens County Board of Commissioners, served on the Board of Directors for The Citizens Bank, Advisory Board for the Salvation Army, President of Georgia Home Furnishings Association and received the Life Time Achievement Award from the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce.  He was an avid water skier and tennis player and played every week with a special group of long-time friends.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Elaine Lewis Hudgins of the home; sons and daughters-in-law, Jewell Bell “Jai” Hudgins, III and Kim of Toccoa, Forrest Lewis Hudgins and Cindy of Cornelia, David Lee Hudgins and Jennie of Roswell and James Thomas “Jamie” Hudgins of Cleveland/Toccoa; grandchildren, Amy and Brandon Gravitt, Lew Hudgins, Kelsey and Zach Shuman, Kadie Hudgins, Brendan Hudgins, and Lauren Hudgins; great-grandchildren, Katelyn, Sadie, Erin and Emersyn; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jerry and Rebekah Krivsky of Clayton and their children and grandchildren, Lee and Robin Krivsky, Emmett and Ashley Krivsky, Kevin and Chimene Krivsky, Allen and Kelly Krivsky, Elaine, Megan, Emma, George, Sarah and Forrest; special caregivers, Edwina Cleveland, Tanya Manley and Edna Palmer.

Memorial services will be Sunday, May 23, 2021, 3 o’clock p.m. at the First United Methodist Church with The Reverend Brent White officiating.  The United States Air Force Honor Guard and the V.F.W Post 4346 will perform Military Honors.  The family will receive friends in the Cheek Hall following the service.  

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts may be made to First United Methodist Church, 333 E. Tugalo Street, Toccoa, Georgia in memory of Mr. J.B. Hudgins, Jr.

Acree-Davis Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. J.B. Hudgins, Jr.