Opal Gwendolyn Hudson, 1936–2010

Opal Gwendolyn Hudson was born on 13 July 1936 in Bragg City, Pemiscot County, Missouri, the sixth child of Willie Miller Hudson and Velva Mae Morton Hudson.

Opal attended elementary school in Bragg City and DuBois Elementary in St. Louis County. She also attended St. Clement’s Catholic School in St. Louis City. She graduated from Sumner High School in St. Louis City in June 1953. Opal was active in the Sumner Alumni Association and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. She also attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Cole County, Missouri, from 1953 to 1954 and later, St. Louis Community College at Forest Park where she received an associate’s degree.

Opal married and divorced twice in St. Louis City and County. Both former spouses are still living.

She and her first husband were the parents of two sons. One son, Craig Wesley Simms, was born on 3 September 1964 and died on 3 August 2015 in the City of St. Louis. Craig is buried at Memorial Park Cemetery next to Opal. Craig attended school in the Normandy School District and graduated from Normandy Senior High School in June 1982. He also attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City.

Opal was employed for twenty-eight years as an administrative assistant and as a supervisor for the Veterans’ Administration Hospital in St. Louis City until her retirement in March 1994. She was also a licensed real estate agent, selling real estate for Brown Kortkamp Realty Company, 4049 Fair Avenue in St. Louis, and she operated Opal’s Resale & Boutique at 707 North Taylor Avenue. She also served as a licensed foster parent for abused children in Missouri.

Opal died on 2 November 2010 in St. Louis County, Missouri, and was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery.

(Sources include census records, marriage and divorce records, death certificates, family documents, obituaries, and personal knowledge.)

Written by Eloise Bernice (Hudson) Hunt
May 2017
© 2017, St. Louis Genealogical Society