Joseph Walter Hudgens, Jr., 87, died on Thursday, December 12, 2019 at his residence. He was born on May 21, 1932 in Greenville County, S.C., the son of Joseph Walter Hudgens, Sr. and Fannie Gilreath Hudgens. He grew up in Taylors, S.C. and graduated from Taylors High School in 1950. He graduated from Furman University in 1954, the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1956 and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, N.C. in 1964. On April 10, 1965 at 4 p.m. he and the love of his life, Judy Sweetland were married. They are the parents of two wonderful daughters, and sons in law, who are loved very much; Toni Hudgens Simmons, her husband Jim Simmons of Apex, N.C. and Celena Hudgens Burnett, her husband Keith Burnett of Charlotte, N.C. Judy and Joe are also the loving and proud grandparents of Amber Simmons and Ashley Simmons. Joe practiced law in Greenville, S.C. and Newberry, S.C. He moved to Newberry on August 15, 1973 and joined the law firm of Pope and Schumpert. His experience with Thomas H. Pope, Jr. and Robert Schumpert were very influential on his life as a lawyer. Later the firm of Pope and Schumpert became the firm of Pope and Hudgens. Prior to coming to Newberry, he was Legal Assistant to Chief Justice Claude Taylor and Chief Justice Joseph Moss, both of the South Carolina Supreme Court. In addition to his life as a lawyer, Joe was an avid picture taker and trout fisherman in the streams of upper Greenville County and Pisgah Forest, N.C. He enjoyed over 20 years of trout fishing trips to Montana with his friends and fishing companions Erin Watson and Guerry Doolittle, along with their Montana friend and teacher, Tom Travis of Livingston, Montana. Joe also taught Sunday School at First Baptist Church of Newberry for more than forty years. Visitation will be on Tuesday, December 17 from 6:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Whitaker Funeral Home in Newberry. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, December 18 at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Albert Allen officiating. Active pallbearers will be Guerry Doolittle, Billy Brice, Jim Simmons, and Keith Burnett. Honorary pallbearers will be Eric Watson, members of the Fishers of Men Sunday School Class, employees of Pope and Hudgens Law Firm and Loraine Stuck. Memorials are suggested to First Baptist Church of Newberry. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.whitakerfuneralhome.com. Whitaker Funeral Home of Newberry is assisting the family.