A Tribute to Tony Hudson: Love That Endures
By Maude Harrison Hudson
Today, as I ended my spiritual retreat, I noticed my blood pressure was higher than usual. For a moment, I wondered what was going on here. Then, as I sat with the question, Tony came to mind, my second husband, my companion, my safe place. Was this his way of nudging me? A whisper from beyond: Don’t forget about me.
Tony and I were married on August 23, 1997. It feels almost impossible that twenty-eight years have passed since that summer day when we promised each other a lifetime. He kept his promise with every fiber of his being. Tony loved me unconditionally. He was patient, gentle, kind, steady, and loving in ways that words can only circle around but never fully capture.
Four years into our marriage, we faced the unthinkable: Tony’s diagnosis with a terminal illness. Life became measured not in years but in moments, each one precious, each one a gift. We leaned into laughter, into quiet evenings, into the tender simplicity of everyday life. His courage taught me more about grace than I could ever have imagined.
He died just two weeks before our sixth anniversary, but love such as his does not die. It continues to live in me, in the way I try to embody patience, in the gentleness I offer others, and in the quiet reminder that unconditional love leaves a permanent mark on the soul.
Today, I remember Tony, I honor the love we shared, the lessons he left me with, and the man who saw me fully and cherished me deeply. His love still steadies my heart, even as it beats on in this new season of life.
Rest in Power, Tony! Rest in Peace!
