Hudson Funeral Home and Cremation Services

Our Story

Our Story

Honored by Your Trust… For Over 100 Years

We understand your family’s traditions, and we understand your need for support and sympathy during stressful times. With you, we share the heritage and history of our community. This is why families in Durham County have called upon us so consistently to stand beside them when sorrow strikes.

Two people standing outdoors, wearing light-colored shirts, in a black-and-white photo.

1919 – 1928

Shortly after World War I, Sanders Vance Hudson Sr. and his wife Ora Thompson Hudson establish their Apex, NC funeral firm in 1919. This was in the era of the horse and buggy, when funeral services were much different than they are today. Caskets were handmade, and funeral services were held in the family’s home where the casket was placed on chairs. Plow lines were used to lower caskets into the grave.

Ora and Vance Hudson Abt 1933

1930s

In 1929, the Hudsons opened an additional funeral home in East Durham. The building was near Crabtree’s Pharmacy, at the corner of Driver & Angier Avenues — this was a branch of the Apex location. A year later they moved to 1800 Angier Avenue, which became their permanent location. It was in this year, the Hudsons brought the first motorized hearse to the community.


1800 Angier Ave. – 1930s

Historic funeral home with porch and cars parked outside on a tree-lined street
Two black-and-white portrait photos labeled Edwin H. Hudson and Ollie T. Hudson.

Hudson’s Ambulance at Duke Chape

Automotive Fleet – 1940s

1940s

In the 1940s, Edwin H. Hudson, Sr. and Ollie Thomas Hudson, Sr. were the second generation of the Hudson Family to operate the family firm. Ed managed the business in 1938 while Ollie attended Mortuary School; Ollie then went on to serve in the U. S. Army during World War II. In 1945, Ollie returned home and managed the funeral home with Ed. Then, in the 1950s, Ed turned over full management to Ollie. Ollie, along with his wife, Hilda, also a funeral director, operated the funeral home until his death in 1984. Hilda retired in 1999. In the 1940s, ambulance services were often provided by funeral homes. The Hudson family brought the very first fully-equipped ambulance to the area, as well as Durham’s first funeral chapel.

1950s

During the 1950s, the funeral home at 1800 Angier Avenue was completely renovated and enlarged. Additional rooms were added along with a brick veneer and large white columns onto the front of the building.

Red brick civic building with white columns and a stairway entrance under a blue sky

Post Card Image 1950s 1800 Angier Ave

Brick church with tall steeple, white entrance, and green lawn under a blue sky

New Hudson Chapel – late 1960s

1960-70s

In the late 1960s, a new funeral chapel was built beside the funeral home at 1800 Angier Avenue.

1980s

Ollie’s oldest son, Ollie Thomas Hudson, Jr. “Tommy”, is the third generation of the Hudson family to manage the funeral home. As a 1971 graduate of Indiana College of Mortuary Science and a licensed funeral director and embalmer, Tommy took over operating the funeral home in 1984. He and his wife, Mary, also a funeral director and licensed Insurance agent, own and operate the business today at it’s newly built location (1986) on 211 S. Miami Boulevard. On the ground level, the new location has two large state rooms, multiple arrangement offices, a selection room, and a chapel.

Single-story building at dusk with lit windows and a stone sign by a green lawn.
Hudson funeral home memorial banner with multiple black-and-white portraits and the slogan “A Service With Dignity”

1990s

Hudson Funeral Home celebrates its 75th anniversary.


Still deeply rooted in the traditions and customs of our area, Tommy and Mary, along with their professional staff, will be at your side any time of the day or night if a death should occur. With one phone call, all your needs will be cared for.

2010s

Hudson Funeral Home celebrates its 100th anniversary.

Historical brochure cover reading “A lot has changed in the last 100 years,” with old photos and a modern building

our commitment

Our Philosphy of Care

We are deeply grateful for the trust you place in us. Together, we look forward to serving our communities with the same integrity, compassion, and dedication that have guided us for decades—and will continue to guide us for decades to come.

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Our Commitment

From the moment someone walks through our doors, they are welcomed and treated like part of our family. At the heart of our name, Family First, is our promise that your family truly becomes our family. Every family is met with genuine compassion, respect, and support, ensuring they feel cared for, understood, and guided with sensitivity at every step of the process.

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Our Vision

We are committed to preserving the history and values that make our service unique. Our vision is to:


  • Provide every family with thoughtful, compassionate, dignified care
  • Offer a warm, welcoming environment for services and gatherings
  • Remain a trusted place of comfort for generations
A black icon of three abstract human figures grouped together, representing a team or group of people.

Our Promise

We are truly grateful for the trust you place in us. It is an honor to serve each family who comes through our doors. Together, we look forward to continuing our mission of supporting our communities with the same integrity, compassion, and unwavering dedication that have guided us for decades—and will continue to guide us with care and commitment for generations to come.