Loss

Last Friday Durrell Hudson was laid to rest at Evergreen Cemetery here in Elba.  I grew up knowing this wonderful fellow as he is Aunt Jenny's dad.  However, in the last 10 years I really got to KNOW him. Whether it was on a Wednesday night around a card table or driving down the highway on one of our many excursions the more he talk the more I listened.  You see, this man had over 80 years worth of stories of being on the road.  In his younger days he drove a truck for a while and up until a a couple years ago he did transfers for Cook Chevrolet. 

About the same time I turned 21 the poker boom was hitting this country.  I was never into math, however I have always liked numbers.  I started playing in a penny poker game and across the table sat Mr. D.  In the years that followed we developed a great relationship and started taking a couple a trips a year.  On these trips to Tunica or Biloxi we obviously had time to talk and he would always tell the most incredible stories.  Some were so amazing you knew they were true.  His stories about the "Old" Vegas were probably my favorite. 

The first trip we took was to Tunica in 04 or 05.  There was a poker tournament that I wanted to play in and Mr. Durrell, Fred Jr. and myself loaded up and went.  To make a long story short I busted out with 70 folks left when I got pretty unlucky.  The funny thing was this really old guy put me out and after all the cards were dealt and I was beat he said "Bring'em to Daddy" referring to the chips.  It was very early in the morning and we were all very tired.  We all laughed about that.  It also stuck.  I can't tell you how many times in a game that was said between Dad, Mr. D and myself.

In the last week since he's been gone I've thought about him and would get emotional but before I was through I would end up laughing.  I've heard the phrase "my man" in my head a ton because that was how he started almost every conversation with me.

He was a true "gem" that will definitely be missed, but left a great legacy in 3 daughters and 4 grandkids.  God Bless you, Durrell Hudson!

Neil