Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.

Janie Lou Hudson was born on April 27, 1957, in Monroe, LA. She was one of twenty-one children born to the late Hazel and Lonnie Hudson, Sr. She professed her love for Jesus Christ at an early age and was a member of Riverside Missionary Baptist Church.

Janie, affectionately called Kate, received her education through the Monroe City School system. She later became a chef and was very well known in Monroe for the delicious meals she prepared at restaurants such as the Monroe Racquet Club, Holiday Inn Holidome, and Six Street Bar and Grill. On November 14, 1973, Kate married the love of her life, AJ Ellis. To this union, five children were born, AJ, Jannie, Janice, Hazel, and Trudy. Kate was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. All who knew her knew her children were her pride and joy; her grandchildren became her world when she became a grandmother, and she loved all her eighteen grandchildren dearly. She especially enjoyed cooking for her family and took pride in planning family events. On June 21, 2023, in God's holy wisdom, Kate was called home to dwell with Him in the glory of paradise.

Awaiting her arrival were her parents, Lonnie and Hazel Hudson, Sr.; seven sisters - Sally Ann Hudson, Millie Marie Johnson, Clara Hudson Carr, Mary Ruth Alexander, Inez Smith, Effie Walker, and Enola Hudson; one brother, Clarence Hudson; son, AJ Jerome Hudson; grandson, Aaron Desean Harris, and father and mother-in-law, JT and Lavern Thomas.

She leaves to cherish her memories a loving and devoted husband, AJ Ellis, Jr.; four daughters - Jannie Ellis, Janice Edwards (Archierene), Hazel Harris (Desean), and Trudy Gray (Melvin); three brothers - Otis Hudson (Renee), Lonnie Hudson (Barbara), Lawrence Hudson; seven sisters - Ida Mea Hester, Leanna Hudson, Amy Wade (Michael), Gloria Lewis (James), Shirley Jones (Eddie), Jackie Elaine Lewis, and Nelviney Smith (Roderick); two sisters-in-law - Julia Toliver and Earnestine Kendrix (Rodell); eighteen grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, neighbors, and friends. Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, July 1, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Greater Free Gift Baptist Church, 5510 US Hwy 165 South in Monroe, LA. Visitation is Friday, June 30, 2023, 3:30 - 5:30 PM at McFarland Funeral Companies at 1901 Berg Jones Lane in Monroe, LA.