Mary Elizabeth "Hudie" Campbell

August 18, 1938 - May 7, 2018

Mary Elizabeth Drew Campbell (Hudie) went home to be with the Lord on May 7, 2018 at the age of 79. Born in Birmingham on August 18, 1938, she grew up in Wylam before moving to Gardendale in 1952. She graduated from Mortimer Jordan High School in 1956 and married Bobby Campbell in August of that year. She loved music and served as pianist at Gardendale’s First Baptist Church for many years. She was the accompanist for the Ladies Trio, sang in the church choir, and played the saxophone in the church orchestra. She taught piano lessons in her home for a number of years where she made a positive impact on her pupils. Prior to her advancement of dementia, she was active in a homebound ministry that involved cooking meals for the elderly and visiting widows and shut-ins. She was a founding board member of the Mountain View Aquatic Club in Gardendale and was instrumental in the design and construction of the swimming pool in 1977. Hudie loved to travel and was blessed to enjoy many international trips with family and life-long friends. She especially loved joining her husband Bobby on mission trips to various Central American countries. She had a special love of animals and children. In 1986, she had the idea to bring a children’s shoe store to Gardendale and worked with her daughter in the management of Neat Feet for ten years. Preceded in death by her mother Irene Coker, her father Frank Drew, and her grandparents Ira and Beulah Cherry, she is survived by her husband Bobby and her two children Cindy (Alan) and Stanley (Kitty). The visitation and funeral service will take place at the South Campus of Gardendale’s First Baptist Church located at 940 Main Street on Saturday, May 12 with visitation from 9:00 – 11:15 AM and the funeral service at 11:30 AM. Hudie was not fond of funeral black. Her favorite colors were purple and pink in all shades, so feel free to wear those colors to her funeral in honor of her. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes (alabamachild.org) or Just Keep Smiling (justkeepsmiling.org). The New Gardendale Funeral Home will handle the arrangements. For more information, contact the funeral home at 205-631-8810.