Julia Victoria (Vickie) Godbee Hudson was born on the family farm in Girard, Georgia, on August 2, 1921. Vickie has lived a remarkable life filled with purpose, passion, and perseverance.
She graduated from high school in 1938 and made the move to Savannah in 1941, where her strong work ethic and bright spirit set the stage for a successful business career. She completed her education at Draughon’s Business College in 1951, soon accepting a job at Pete Hudson Motors in Savannah.
There, she found her professional calling and met and married Joseph Earl "Pete" Hudson, who ran the business until his retirement in 1979. Never one to remain idle, Vickie continued to share her talents at Memorial Hospital’s accounting department, where she worked for another 27 years, retiring at age 85.
A trailblazer in business and leadership, she served in many roles, including President of the Azalea Chapter of the American Business Women's Association (ABWA), for which she was elected Woman of the Year in 1971; Founding President of the Savannah Independent Auto Dealers Association (SIADA) Ladies Auxiliary, serving as their first president; and Treasurer of Wesley Oak Methodist Church for 50 years, where she remains a devoted member.
Vickie is the proud mother of two children, daughter Kitty and son Grover, as well as a loving grandmother to four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
This year’s birthday celebration was extra special for Vickie: Her great-granddaughter Jessie Lanier Fries was born just a few days before Vickie's 100th birthday, on July 25, 2021. Jesse Lanier joined her “Mema” for a joint birthday party this year filled with M&M’s, cupcakes, ice cream, and mermaids.
Both wore sparkling tiaras, Vickie’s reading “104” and Jessie’s glittering with a pink “4”.
When asked how old she feels, Vickie grinned saying, “I feel like I’m 20 and added that her birthday wish is “a new Cadillac!” Her favorite childhood pastime was playing hide and seek, and these days she enjoys BINGO.
Vickie attributes her long life to her early years on the farm, picking cotton and riding trucks.
Barbara Eloi, Lifestyle Director at Southern Manor, where Vickie is a 6 year resident, shared, "Your beautiful smile, kind heart, and graceful spirit have brightened the lives of so many. What a joy it is to celebrate such a remarkable woman. Wishing you a day filled with love, laughter, and sweet memories!”
Happy 104th Birthday, Vickie. Wishing you sweet days filled with M&Ms, joyful games of BINGO, and the loving presence of family and friends!
